Investing in the Next Generation - Julian Returns to Aston University

Julian and Guy Skinner

Last month, Julian returned to Aston University - the place where his own career began - to deliver a guest lecture to this year’s MBA students on how to build a successful business. He was joined by fellow Aston alumnus Guy Skinner, who also runs a successful IFA firm, for a joint session drawing on both their experiences.

A Return to Where It Started

Thirty-five years after graduating from Aston’s MBA programme, Julian was invited back to share the story of building Wealth Matters from scratch into the £5.5m business it is today. It’s a journey that began with six years in commission-only sales at Airpic, took him overseas to Australia, and eventually led to founding The Mortgage Professionals in 1999 and Wealth Matters the year after.

Key Themes from the Talk

Julian structured his part of the talk around the principles that have shaped the business over 27 years: the importance of standards and values in building trust, the value of genuine networking, and the discipline of continuous learning. He was candid about the mistakes too, including not writing an exit strategy from day one, and finding the balance between a lifestyle business and a growth business sooner.

The Value of Mentoring

For Julian, the invitation was about more than revisiting old ground. As he put it to the students: “You cannot build a £5.5m business alone. The people you develop and reward become your greatest asset.” He’s seen the same principle play out throughout his career, and believes it applies just as much to mentoring young people starting out as it does to building a team. A conversation or piece of advice at the right moment can shape a career in ways that aren’t always obvious at the time.

Why This Stage Matters

Engaging with students while they’re still weighing up career decisions is something Julian feels strongly about. It’s a similar spirit to Edith, who spent a week with the team earlier this year gaining first-hand experience of financial planning and is now considering it as a career. Whether it’s a lecture hall of MBA students or a week of work experience in the office, reaching people at this stage - before paths are fully set - is where guidance can make the most difference.

Looking Ahead

Educating and supporting the next generation is something we care about at Wealth Matters, and we’ll keep looking for opportunities to do more of it. We’re always happy to hear from clients whose children or family members might benefit from a conversation about careers in financial services.