Spotlight Series - Jonathan Young, Financial Planner

Tell us about your role and Carbon and why you wanted to work for the business?

I’m a Financial Planner with Carbon and have been in the role for 14 months. This is actually my second stint with Carbon, having originally worked with the business a few years ago. I explored opportunities with another wealth management business but ultimately came back as I preferred the culture here and trust the senior management in their vision for the company and my career.

Talk us through your career to date

I had a slightly unusual journey into financial planning as my degree from Strathclyde University was in English. When leaving University, the careers for that degree were driven towards teaching which was something I wasn’t interested in. Instead, I went to work for a pensions provider and worked my way into becoming a technical expert in pensions. I then decided to move into financial planning in 2016 for more diversity which has been the area I have remained in ever since.

What is it about your role that excites and inspires you?

The variety we come across in terms of people’s lives, stories and approach to how they want to live their life really keeps the role exciting, with no two days or two clients the same. We all start from the point of wanting to make a meaningful impact in our client’s lives, but getting to build to that point where our client makes a lifestyle change, such as retiring earlier than they maybe thought they could, is the best thing about this job.

It is hard not to get inspired by our clients stories and the meaningful impact our advice as had on their lives.

From your perspective, what are the key financial issues to be aware of over the next X year(s)?

Pensions is a constant source of ever-changing legislation and the taxation of it seems to not only be shifting under our feet, but seems like a political weapon that will be used at the next general election.

If you are approaching retirement or already retired, keeping on top of these changes and making sure your income is as tax-efficient as possible will be vital. So having an awareness, or speaking to an adviser to check this, is the best advice I can give for the next couple of years.

What is the most important piece of advice you give to your clients?

Spend your money in a meaningful way. Money is a tool to be enjoyed so you should spend it on what makes you happy – with the far less fun caveat that you do so in a way that is sustainable over the long-term.

What do you love most about working for Carbon?

The culture at Carbon. There is a collaborative feel to the team where some advice firms can very much feel like an individual pursuit. There is also a culture of constant learning and willingness to improve; so when you see the most senior planners still doing exams and going on courses to better not only their own expertise but the expertise within the company it is impossible to not be inspired to do the same. This collaborative team spirit not only fits my personality, but helps bring the best outcome for the client as well.

What would you like to achieve next in your career with Carbon?

My focus at the moment is putting the work in to ensure I can add to this culture, by continuously improving and developing both soft and technical skills to ensure the best outcome for my clients.

If you would like to have a chat or a coffee with Jonathan to find out more about what he has been up to since joining Carbon please get in touch.