Paul is one of our regular bloggers here at Essex Round Up, we thought you might like to get to know him better 
1. Name: Paul Weedon
2. Business: Financial Services – Business Protection Planning & Commercial Insurance
3. Position: Financial Planner
4. years experience / trading 2 years
5. Location Leigh on Sea
6. Website www.newleafadvicecentre.co.uk
7. Contact details Office: 01702 470054 and email paul.weedon@newleaffs.com
Interview.
In all honesty I started my business with the then intention of owning a local business, which was close to home due to having just become a father. The requirement was for a respectable business, and one that would also encompass a relationship with investments and the financial markets. With the majority of my career within Merchant Banking and Proprietary Trading a wealth of experience is available to draw upon and afford clients.
Having established contact with New Leaf a couple of years previously in relation to becoming a financial adviser, I had already done my research – and so the decision was made to embark upon both a new career path and business venture. At time of writing I recently qualified in May, with the Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) – this is a Level 4 qualification compliant with the requirements of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR). The level 4 qualification itself is the new benchmark for all financial advisers, this in addition to having achieved both CeFA and CeMAP qualifications assures clients that any advice received is of a higher standard.
So with the qualifications now under my belt the immediate future plans are to continue building the business and client base whilst remaining operative under the New Leaf brand. Our offices are in Leigh on Sea, Essex, an ideal location due to proximity of Southend, Basildon, Chelmsford etc and have an excellent train service into Fenchurch Street.
Having just expanded our commercial insurance offering, with fantastic access to approximately 200 insurance underwriters the plan is to win clients over. We are strongly competitive in many areas of general insurance for clients, although were are particulary so for professional indemnity insurance and especially within the I.T. Sector
The provision of commercial insurance allows us to get to know our clients immediate needs, however we build from here to establish business protection for the Key Persons, Directors, Shareholders and Partners ensuring the business can operate with pre-determined funds should an individual suffer a critical illness, die or require long term rehabilition from a medical condition. The business is more robust and financially capable, alluding to better management processes and ultimately investor value.
With the new regulations appertaining to auto-enrolment, pensions advice will become a necessity for every employer. We already have provision of independent financial advice within New Leaf for our clients, and along with investments these are the planned areas of growth moving forward.
Within the Essex area and in align with promoting financial services I have been networking for just over a year, and experienced events hosted by many organisations. Being a proponent of 4Networking and a Group Leader in Southend I still believe you have to make every effort whilst networking, every meeting is a further link to your next client so be sure you promote yourself well – my best tip is to ensure you arrive in a positive mindset.
Oh the thought of doing it all again and differently…..!!!!! If you’re doing it right, you should already be doing it differently – although you have a chief aim your business plan has to change constantly adapting to clients, trends, needs, knowledge, IT, finances, obstacles, lead generation, regulations etc you name it. Staying ahead means being bold.
As Goethe put it – ‘…boldness has genius, power and magic in it’.
