.png)
What is your name?
Matthew Aitchison
What is your occupation?
Owner, Managing Director and Financial Planner at Clear Vision Financial Planning Ltd
Where do you live?
Just outside Bedford
When did you start your career in finance? How did you get into it?
I started in 2005. I had just finished my university degree and was looking for a graduate position. I saw an advert for a Trainee Financial Adviser Graduate Scheme at a local IFA and the rest is history!
If you could start your business again, what would you do differently?
Get more focused on what our vision for the company would be, what we do and who we do it for.
What would be your biggest piece of advice to someone coming into the financial planning profession?
Always be curious – in personal development and working with clients.
How would you define your personal mission?
To help people to live the life they truly want to live, whilst spending time doing the same with my family.
How would you define your personal vision?
In terms of personal vision, this is entwined with my business vision. My vision is of delivering a fantastic financial planning experience where we are pivotal in helping our clients live a purposeful and fulfilling life whilst delivering an amazing life with my family.
How would you define your personal values?
Positivity – Life is too short not to spend it with a smile on your face and trying to ensure those around you have a smile on their face too.
Family – Those you love are the most important people and need to be cherished.
Memories – You never know what’s around the corner, so spend your time making memories. Life is short, live for the moment whilst planning for a better tomorrow.
What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
Definitely my 4 kids. As all Dads do, I love them to bits and they make me so proud every day. Me and my wife had our first child early (whilst we were at university) so to work hard and fight to build a family and a life together when the odds were stacked against us is my greatest achievement to date.
What is the greatest book you have ever read that helped you in your career?
The Geometry of Wealth by Brian Portnoy.
What is your most valuable asset of being a NextGen Planners member?
The open and giving nature of the community.
(Only answer this one if you truly want to…) Who is your favourite NextGen Planners member?
This is the toughest question of the lot! So many people have been welcoming and I have made some great friends. Notable mentions are Damien Clyburn, Rohan Sivajoti, Catherine Morgan, Gretchen Betts, Rich Ellis and Marcus Farnfield.