Matthew Holden-Jones, Managing Director at H-J Wealth Planning Ltd
Matt has been involved in the financial services industry since 1999. Before starting his own business, he held several advisory and managerial positions for major banks including Lloyds TSB, HBOS and Santander.
Matt is a keen fundraiser which is reflected in the company’s commitment to raising money for charity. His most significant sporting achievement was completing the London Marathon in both 2010 and 2016 raising significant amounts of money for Barnardo’s and Meningitis Now. Spending time with his three girls (wife included) is the most important aspect of his life.
- Tell us a little bit about your business…
H-J Wealth Planning was formed with one main vision, which still stands true today and that is to provide the highest levels of service and clarity when it comes to giving financial advice. We’re a small team that supports business owners, professionals, and wealthy individuals to plan better for their financial future.
- How did you get into the industry?
By pure chance, as historically I was a lighting designer for major festivals and nightclubs, as well as a DJ for years. After three years of being together, my now wife asked me to ‘get a proper job’ so I applied to work in a Lloyds TSB call centre, answering the phones to shareholders. I left after about 8 months really not enjoying it and went to my bank (Lloyds) on the same day and asked for an extension to my overdraft due to not having any income (I know, go figure), and they said, “why don’t you come and work for us?” That was the start of my career in banking.
- What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?
The biggest challenge is the ever-changing landscape with regulation and market conditions. Keeping on top of legislation and regulation is so important to our client’s financial success, but we do our best to keep things as simple as possible in what is a very complex arena.
The biggest opportunity is growing and improving the company by way of continuous improvement in all aspects of how we operate. We pride ourselves on being able to be relatable, to listen well, adapt, and improve our offering to clients to ensure we’re leading from the front, being a great place to work and to do business. The need for financial advice has never been stronger, and with only around 25,000+ advisors across the UK, this continues to present growth by virtue of new clients coming to us for advice, mainly through recommendations and referrals.
- How would you describe your leadership style?
I’ve learned a lot over the years and had to learn fast and I’ve made some mistakes along with the way. I pride myself on ensuring we have an open and collaborative workplace, so I operate with a linear management style, leaving our team members to do their job to the best or their abilities without micromanaging, and having an ‘open door’ policy so they know that they can ask for help and support where needed.
- How do you get the most out of the people who work for you?
Leading from the front, being visible and working hard myself is paramount to ensuring my team follow suit. Our systems, controls, policies, and procedures are clear and help everyone to work with confidence in what they’re doing. It has not always been this way, but because we always strive for continuous improvement and that the team are also responsible for this as well, everyone is working towards the same vision for the company. We also make sure that the environment we work in is fun as well as professional.
- What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?
Being open, honest, helpful, always looking for continuous improvements, doing what we say we’re going to do when we say we’re going to do it, and making sure that we’re always accessible.
- How has the past 12 months been for you?
The last 12 months has been a real challenge in terms of market conditions, but that has been the same for everyone. We’ve also had challenges with recruitment, which seems to be a common theme, but we have started to identify that aligning recruitment to our company values is core to ensuring a solid team, where we also know what is important to them as individuals.
- What will the next 12 months look like for your business?
The next 12 months looks very exciting, with new recruits, development of our existing team into new roles and a continuing need for our services.
- What are the highlights of your career so far?
There are so many, but I think the one that stands out is the first time I looked back over my life and realised how far I’ve come. Leaving home and school at age 15 with no GCSE’s, probably meant that I was destined for a life that was going to be a real struggle, but after many years doing numerous jobs from window cleaning, car valeting, working behind bars, and designing lighting shows for TV and festivals to name a few, I’m truly proud of the man I’ve grown to become and the company that provides such support for so many. I feel privileged.
- What’s the biggest business mistake that you’ve learnt from?
One mistake that really stands out was sending an email to a prospective client towards the start of H-J Wealth Planning being formed. I was building a business, so every potential client was important to make sure I could survive and grow. I was frustrated and probably a little desperate, so sent an email that wasn’t rude, but was truly desperate. Had I taken the time to sleep on that email, I would not have sent it the following day, for sure.
I’ve learned over the years that business is generally done on the basis of trust, respect, and strong relationships. I know that we won’t win all business and I now know that is fine. As long as you strongly believe in what you do, knowing you do a great job, being hard working and tenacious you will make a success of anything you have a real passion for. People deal with people, so forcing relationships is something that will never work.
- What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
I’m fortunate to work with so many great business owners, entrepreneurs and successful individuals who have shared their successes and challenges, but one piece of advice that really stands out was to ‘invest in yourself’, placing focus on your own health, exercising regularly, eating well, and taking time out (downtime) with friends and family is of utmost importance. Hard work is great and required for success, but burning yourself out is no good to you, your family, your team, or your clients. If you can’t look after yourself, how can you look after anyone else!
