Founder and managing director of RockWealth Cardiff, Matt Millard, is an experienced financial planner. Matt has worked in financial services ever since he left university. With a particular interest in pensions and retirement planning, he also has a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising clients on investment and tax planning. Armed with advanced pension transfers qualifications and in-depth knowledge of pension transfers, he's now working towards achieving Chartered Status. We catch up with Matt to learn more about his approach to lifestyle financial planning, his future ambitions, and what he gets up to out of the office. What were you doing before joining RockWealth? I’ve had a keen interest in finance since I was in school. When I graduated, in 1998, I joined the life company Lincoln Assurance where I ended up working for a large regional practice. This practice eventually broke away to become one of the founding partners of the national IFA firm, Lighthouse. Following roles in a couple of different IFA firms and then a six-year sabbatical in tax advice, most recently I worked as a Financial Planner and Pension Transfer Specialist in a small local practice. What attracted you to RockWealth? The key factor was to be in charge of my destiny so I could build my own business and provide the high quality of service that I wanted my clients to receive. However, being on your own in financial services can be lonely. I wanted the best of both worlds; being my own boss, but also being part of a team. I did a lot of research into the marketplace and spoke to many of my peers for advice. When I came across RockWealth, they stood head and shoulders above everything else I had seen. Notwithstanding the fixed-fee model and evidence-based approach to investment, I have found the whole RockWealth team genuinely interested in helping me grow my business and the level of support has been exceptional, which is a refreshing change in this industry. Tim Horrocks has a clear vision of where the group is heading, which perfectly aligned with what I was looking for. The tipping point was speaking to three unrelated (and geographically distant) well respected professionals in the industry who all gave Tim and the RockWealth team glowing recommendations. Do you have a specialist area, or is there a particular aspect of financial planning that you most enjoy? As many of my clients are around retirement age, I’ve developed a real passion for lifestyle financial planning. Seeing people’s lives change as they transition from their working lives to one where I get to help them achieve their goals and aspirations is incredibly rewarding. From the accountancy network I have grown from my time in tax advice, I also have a keen interest in the Corporate Financial Planning arena and am now spending a lot of time working with business owners on sale and exit strategies for retirement planning. I'm also a member of Resolution and have written several expert witness reports for complex divorce cases. What’s the most rewarding thing about your job? Seeing people blossom and grow as they transfer from a working environment to the next chapter in their lives. I’ve learnt a lot about this journey, and it never ceases to amaze me that when clients really engage in the financial planning process, you can literally change their lives for the better in so many ways. And several clients have become good friends. The quick-fire round When I'm not at work... I’m probably with my wife, walking our dog. We recently adopted a Spanish Greyhound (which are called “Galgos”). She has transformed our lives. If you love dogs, don’t google Galgos – their stories are heartbreaking and you’ll be adopting one within days. Dogs aside, my primary passion is golf and I play at least twice a week. If there’s such a thing as ”getting the golf bug”, then I’ve got it! I’ve got my handicap down to 8, which I'm quite happy with. I'm also a keen skier, time permitting. Favourite food? Hmm, tough choice between Thai or Indian. If forced to choose, I’d say Thai. Favourite film? As a child growing up in the 80s, my favourite film was The Goonies. Closely followed by The Lost Boys and Top Gun. Today, there are so many great films but anything Lord of The Rings or Marvel-related definitely gets a thumbs up. I'm looking forward to the Top Gun sequel later this year. Top of your reading list? Foundation by Isaac Asimov. It’s a seminal piece of sci-fi writing but look out for the upcoming dramatised TV version on Apple. It’s going to be amazing. Top of your bucket list? I’m very lucky to have been able to do a lot of things I’ve always wanted, but top of my bucket list is to play a round of golf at Pebble Beach Golf Links. That, and trying to convince my wife Claire to let me convert the garage into a bar and golf simulator! What makes you laugh? One of my good friends from university is comedian Mike Bubbins who co-hosts the podcast The Socially Distant Sports Bar. It’s a must-listen when I walk the dog on my own, and I get plenty of funny looks as I walk down the street laughing to myself with my headphones on. Get in touch with Matt Millard. Email cardiff@rockwealth.co.uk or call 02921 051410 and he will be happy to arrange a meeting.
In the Spotlight: Matt Millard, Managing Director RockWealth Cardiff
