Spotlight on… Stacey Woodman

Since joining Five Wealth in 2018, Stacey Woodman has been a key member of the team, helping to ensure the smooth running of client accounts and being a reliable contact for any client queries. We caught up with her to discuss her role and responsibilities as a financial planning assistant within the firm.

Tell us a bit about you and your role?

I’ve worked in financial services since 2002, joining Five Wealth’s administration team six years ago. As a financial planning assistant, I work in the background to ensure the smooth and seamless day-to-day running of my accounts, alongside the financial adviser and the rest of the account team. From the outset of onboarding to completion, I look after the daily administration and management of my clients’ accounts, whether that’s processing transactions, creating reports or arranging annual financial planning reviews.

A big part of my role is being a key point of contact for my clients. At Five Wealth, clients will have an adviser, an administrator and financial planning managers. This ensures there is always someone on hand and available if they have any questions or require any assistance, which is an essential part of our high-quality service offering.

How has your role changed since joining Five Wealth?

Five Wealth has empowered me to take charge of my development, supporting me through professional exams to gain a qualification in financial protection. This isn’t necessary for someone in my role, but something I was keen to do so it’s great that Five Wealth helped me to pursue this. It has opened the doors for me to take on more responsibility in the firm and push my career further.

Further to this, Five Wealth also funded my enrolment and training to become a qualified First Aid Officer, supporting my personal ambitions, as well as my professional goals.

Best part of working at Five Wealth?

What makes Five Wealth stand out to me is the relationships we form with clients.

Our clients aren’t just numbers like you might find at larger firms, we have a family feel with clients which allows us to really understand their needs and provide bespoke advice.

Having been with Five Wealth for six years, I’ve been able to build even stronger connections and trust with my clients over time.

Five Wealth also hosts exciting socials to encourage team building across the firm. I’ve been involved in paintballing and more recently a group PT session. It’s a great way to bond and come together outside of the office and helps build connections with people who aren’t in our immediate teams.

Double success for Five Wealth at the prestigious Personal Finance Awards 2024

We are proud to announce that we have been named Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year at the Personal Finance Society Awards 2024, held at the iconic 12th Knot in London. This accolade highlights our dedication to the highest standards of professionalism, client care, and our vision of creating a lasting legacy. In addition, Steve Hughes, one of our founding directors, was honoured with the title of Education Champion of the Year for his remarkable contributions to financial education and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.

The Personal Finance Society Awards, this year hosted by TV personality Davina McCall, celebrate excellence within the financial planning profession, recognising individuals and firms who have made a significant impact over the past year. Commenting on the winners, Christine Elliott, Chair of the Personal Finance Society, said, “We are pleased to recognise the outstanding contributions of the past year, which exemplify the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that are vital to building public trust in our profession.”

Our chartered status: a commitment to excellence

At Five Wealth, becoming chartered was a milestone we pursued with determination, and it now stands as a hallmark of our dedication to delivering exceptional financial planning services. Chartered status is more than just a title: it reflects our unwavering commitment to professionalism, ethics, and continuous development. Our entire team works to uphold these values, with regular training, qualifications, and investment in future talent.

From our graduate programme, which has seen many young professionals rise through the ranks, to our bespoke mentoring for new advisers, we prioritise the growth of our team, ensuring we deliver the highest standard of advice and service to our clients. Winning Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year is a recognition of our dedication to this cause and the trust our clients place in us.

Building a legacy through education

Steve Hughes, who was named Education Champion of the Year, has dedicated his career to fostering financial education and empowering the next generation. His efforts span across various initiatives, such as the My Personal Finance Skills programme, secondary school assembly speeches, and regular attendance at career workshops in schools, all aimed at improving financial literacy for young people. He has also helped to facilitate Next Generation seminars, delivered by Five Wealth’s graduates to young people aged 18-25 to improve their financial knowledge and understanding. By offering practical guidance and making financial concepts accessible, Steve hopes to inspire future leaders in the field of financial planning.

His hands-on approach – whether running workshops for secondary school students, delivering talks at primary schools, or mentoring young talent in our firm – has been instrumental in creating a culture of learning at Five Wealth. In his own words: “I’m passionate about giving back and helping young people understand the importance of financial literacy. Through our work, I hope to remove glass ceilings and provide opportunities for the next generation.”

A bright future ahead

These awards are not only a recognition of the work we have done, but also a motivation to continue raising the bar in everything we do. As we move into the next phase of our journey, following private equity investment in 2023, we are excited to extend our service-led approach to more clients and communities.

We would like to thank our clients for their trust and continued support, as well as our incredible team whose hard work and passion made these achievements possible.