SOFI meets...

Anna Bartholomew, Partnership Services Director at the Openwork Partnership, joins Stuart Breyer to kick-start Season 3 to explore why the client onboarding process has never mattered more - and what the gap between best practice and common mistakes means for advice at scale. With nearly 4,800 advisors across the partnership, her perspective on human value in an AI-driven landscape is directly relevant to wealth platforms and distribution leaders across the institutional space.

Tracy Blackwell (founder and former CEO of Pensions Insurance Corporation) joins Stuart Breyer to explore why institutional capital keeps failing to flow into infrastructure, venture, and growth - and what it will actually take to fix it. From the stock versus flow problem in UK savings, to why DC schemes need a cultural and linguistic overhaul, Tracy Blackwell makes the case that savers are missing out on the very companies the UK is building.

Sally Bridgeland joins Stuart Breyer to discuss her upcoming book "Chess Club Drama Club" exploring everyday inclusion and creativity in the workplace. They delve into how organisations can move beyond diversity statistics to create truly inclusive environments that value both analytical and creative thinking.

Claire Walsh, founder of Midsommar Wealth, joins Stuart to discuss her journey into financial advice and her approach to building a wealth management firm with fair fee structures. She shares insights on charging hourly rates versus percentages and her vision for using AI to enhance client relationships.

International Women's Day Special - Amanda Cassidy (Managing Director of the Quilter Academy and Advisor Development) explores the critical challenges facing the financial advice profession, including an ageing advisor population and the need for greater diversity. She discusses how the Quilter Academy is evolving beyond qualifications to equip the next generation with the skills and confidence to succeed.

Leandros Kalisperas, Chief Investment Officer at the British Business Bank, joins Stuart Breyer to explore the UK’s scale-up capital gap and what it will take to close it. They discuss the Bank’s role as the largest investor in UK venture capital and unpack initiatives such as Venture Link and the British Growth Partnership, designed to crowd in private capital alongside public investment.

Tony Youssefin, a fund manager with over 40 years of experience, discusses the dramatic transformation of the financial services industry since 1981 and shares insights on the crucial balance between academic knowledge and real-world experience in investment management.

Dawid Konotey-Ahulu joins Stuart Breyer to explore the power of public speaking and the Spellbound programme, which helps people from disadvantaged backgrounds find their voice and tell their stories. They discuss how the ability to speak confidently can transform lives and create societal change. Visit SOFIai.com to see how we unlock the power of speech.

Robert Cochran, workplace savings and engagement and Innovation specialist at Scottish Widows, joins Stuart Breyer to explore how TikTok and gamification are revolutionising pension engagement. Learn how personalisation, authenticity, and timing are key to effective pension communications, with Scottish Widows' Pensions Mirror tool approaching one million users.

Richard Tomlinson (Chief Investment Officer at Local Pensions Partnership Investments) joins Stuart Breyer to explore consolidation in the LGPS landscape and the balance between member and employer interests. Discover why "missionaries compound trust, mercenaries compound fees" and what makes £50-£60 billion the "sweet spot" for asset owners.

Natalie Winterfrost, a lifelong vegetarian and sustainability advocate working in finance, joins Stuart Breyer to explore how to balance fiduciary duty with positive impact investing, and shares insights on effective stewardship and resilience in the evolving responsible investment landscape.

In this episode, Stuart Breyer sits down with Sam Barton, CTO of the Black Finch Group, to discuss how their platform Thrive is transforming financial wellbeing by creating a holistic experience that combines pensions, benefits, and financial education. As workplace pensions have become universal since auto-enrolment began in 2012, there's a growing need to help people understand and engage with their financial futures.

Stuart Breyer interviews Ed Gascoigne, chartered financial planner at St James' Partnership and FLM, exploring the evolution of financial planning and how AI is changing the profession. They discuss the importance of deep empathy in understanding clients' needs and why financial planning has never been more crucial in today's world of rising taxes and longer lifespans

Jenny Segal, author and workplace culture expert, joins Stuart Breyer to explore why resilience is not just a soft skill but a strategic capability for businesses. She shares insights from her research showing that 38% of resilience trials are work-related and how "people are a compounding asset" that organisations must invest in.

Alexandra Loydon, Group Director of Advice at St James' Place, joins Stuart Breyer to explore how AI is transforming financial advice delivery without replacing advisors. Alex shares how SJP is using tools like Chat SJP to help advisors navigate complex frameworks, enabling them to spend more time with clients.

Discover how nature can become an investable asset. In this pilot episode, Rob Gardner—CEO & co-founder of Rebalance Earth—shares lessons from co-founding Redington, launching RedSTART, and now positioning nature itself as an asset class with our CEO and host, Stuart Breyer.We explore:• Why financial resilience and environmental resilience are linked• How integrating financial strategies can tackle climate change & biodiversity loss• Rob’s journey from pensions to planetary impact🔗 Learn more about SOFI.ai