True Potential was at the forefront of the use of technology in financial advice at that time. A great company, with excellent people and the perfect place for me to start.
On leaving the bank in 2013, I had six weeks before a holiday booked in the previous year and my aim was to generate enough ongoing fees during that period to replace my salary at the bank.
I had amazing local support with networking groups, friends of friends, family, and some local advertising that I managed to achieve that and more.
A year later, we became directly authorised, and two years later we obtained our discretionary investment permissions and moved away from True Potential, launching Iron Market.
Now, as we enter our tenth year in 2023, we have clear growth plans, a wonderful team of 21 and a vision of how, as the "net-worth Ntwrk", we differentiate.
The same year I went out on my own, the man who gave me my ultimate inspiration and confidence during that time, my dad, became ill with acute myeloid leukaemia.
At the time, my sister, Amy, was working in a marketing role she didn’t enjoy and wanted to be closer to dad. I was able to bring her into the business as, like most advisers, I need assistance with the back office.
This also meant that she could be closer to mum and dad too as he started chemotherapy. Sadly, we lost dad at 60, less than a year later after his original diagnosis.
While RDR effectively ended my career, it was also the best thing that ever happened to me.
I was able to spend time with dad at my own whim during that first year and help mum after his passing.
Now, every year, we have a golf day in Dad’s memory and we are humbled by the amazing support from our clients, associates and friends who help us raise money for so many brilliant local charities.
What’s more, Amy is now a shareholder, board member and our net-worth Ntwrk managing director.
A decade since RDR means 10 years of my business. Thank you RDR, I love what I do, and I love what we’re building.
Wesley Wilkes is managing partner and investment director at Iron Market Group
