Hi, my name is Louise Shepherd. I am a Chartered Financial Planner at HFMC Wealth. 

What made you start looking for a new home as an adviser?

I was working for a large organisation that was continuing to grow following an acquisition, and it increasingly felt like I was just a number rather than someone who was valued. It was a very restrictive environment, my support was limited, and I didn’t feel I was able to deliver the standard of service my clients deserved. 

What was it about HFMC that stood out to you?

What was refreshing and stood out about HFMC for me was that it was very personable – you were treated like an individual, it had a very strong family feel, a collaborative team environment, and it had a genuinely advice-led rather than investment-led culture. 

You were brought in to support the transition from two retiring advisers, how was that handled?

I was brought in to look after a client bank from two retiring advisers. The transition went really well. We had great support from the company and the team. The support team was excellent. We did it over a period of just over 12 months, which was ample time to be able to meet with all the clients. The clients felt comfortable, and the advisers who were retiring did too. Everyone has stayed on, which is great! We’ve had no clients leave, so I think that shows how brilliantly the transition worked. 

How does the way you work now feel compared to before you joined HFMC?

The way I work now, compared to when I joined HFMC Wealth, is very flexible. I get to run my client bank how I like, I get to work with whoever I want to work with, I have complete independence in the sense that I can run my own diary without any oversight, and complete flexibility, really. 

How would you describe the culture at HFMC, particularly within your team?

The culture at HFMC Wealth is a family-like environment; very warm and supportive, it’s not corporate in feel at all. Within my own team, that is exactly the same; we’re all very supportive, we work well together and know each other really well. 

Are there any team members who’ve particularly supported you since joining HFMC? 

The team members within HFMC who have supported my career are Lisa Hessey; she’s been a brilliant supporter of mine and leader, and Catherine Easeland, who is my technical paraplanner, and I wouldn’t be able to do my job without her. 

You took some time out for maternity leave, how was that managed and how supported did you feel during that time?

I recently took some time out for maternity leave, and I will shortly be going on maternity leave again. The process was a very smooth transition, and I had the support of the company behind me to ensure that when I did go off on maternity leave, my clients were looked after really well by an individual in my team whom I completely trust. I was able to go on maternity leave feeling very happy and satisfied that when I walked back into work, it would be like I left the day before, rather than the 9 or 10 months I’d be off for. 

How do you feel about your future at HFMC now you’ve settled into your role?

Looking ahead, I feel incredibly positive about the future. It’s an environment where I feel I can grow and thrive and really deliver for my clients.

Would you recommend HFMC to others looking for a change or wanting to build a career in financial planning?

I would absolutely recommend HFMC Wealth to others. It’s a great place to work, you’re very well supported, you work in a very flexible environment, and it has an open-door policy, so if you need to speak about anything to anyone, they would be there to help you.