Vanessa Barnes - Hannay Wealth and The Womens Wealth Alliance

In this episode of the Financial Planning Podcast, Lewis sits down with Vanessa Barnes for a brilliant conversation on how financial planning has changed over the last 40 years and where the profession still needs to improve. Vanessa shares her perspective on the shift from a sales-led industry to a true profession, why rapport, communication and client understanding still matter so much, and how planners can better support people through major life stages. They also talk about women's wealth, the pension gender gap, vulnerability, AI, and how owner managers can build firms around the life they actually want. This is a practical and thought-provoking episode for advisers and business owners who care about better conversations, better client outcomes and the long-term future of financial planning. Connect with Lewis Byford Connect with Vanessa Barnes