Investing in people and our profession

If you know anything about Fortitude Financial Planning, you’ll know that we often talk about ‘Kaizen’. It’s a Japanese word that, loosely translated, means ‘continuous improvement’ – although that doesn’t quite do it justice. Kaizen is something we really value here. It’s about always going above and beyond. To raise the bar in everything we do. And it’s about always looking for ways we can give something back – to our clients, to each other and also to our profession.  

It’s something that Chris Bowmer, our Director, is passionate about. Helping others to achieve happiness and success is what gets him out of bed in the morning. So no matter how busy he is he always finds time to pass on his knowledge. To help others learn, grow and triumph.

A mentoring middle man

Chris has discovered that mentoring is one of the most valuable ways to give back to his profession. It’s a way for him to act as a middle man. He’s there to offer his knowledge and help people learn, but at the same time, not lead too much, letting them find their own way forward. He says it’s very different from being a coach – rather than asking ‘how do you feel about this’, it’s more ‘why don’t you try this?’

Chris is certainly in demand. He’s currently involved in two separate mentorship programmes, one run by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and another run by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Through each of these schemes, he works with two people, helping them progress their skills and experience – with the ultimate aim of providing an even better service to their clients.

Mentoring closer to home

Chris has also been a mentor to our very own Richard Peters since he joined us in 2016. He helped him become a Certified Financial Planner and has been by his side throughout his professional journey. That, in turn, has led to Richard becoming a mentor for others.  

A few years ago, Richard found himself among many like-minded people when he attended the Lifestyle Financial Planning conference, Back2y. It’s a movement that is shunning the old product-led ways of working, to embrace a more client-centred approach. One that’s focused on helping clients achieve the best possible lifestyle, with whatever they have available to them.

Richard was so inspired by what he heard at the conference that he wanted to share his own experience of working in this way and the benefits it brings to clients. So, at last year’s event, he found himself in front of 500 people, taking part in a question and answer session, along with a panel of other industry professionals. Well, they do say what goes around comes around…

Wealth and wellbeing

As if he hasn’t got enough going on, Chris has also become one of two regional coordinators for a new organisation, the Initiative for Financial Wellbeing (IFW). It’s a group that’s dedicated to researching how money can make us happy. And to help financial planners, advisers and coaches improve their clients’ financial wellbeing by helping them become happier and more fulfilled, not just wealthier.

Chris also shares his knowledge through a local Mastermind Group, which he’s been a part of for the last ten years. It’s an open and honest forum for five local businesses to come together and talk about all aspects of the financial profession and share their ideas for best practice. It’s something that’s become very important to Chris, with members becoming friends as well as business allies.

Living our values

After being in the business for so many years, Chris certainly has a great deal to share. And he’s made it his mission to invest in the continuous improvement of those around him – and to work closely with others so he never stops learning himself. He really is a living, walking advertisement for Kaizen! And he does it all so that clients can receive the best service possible and live the rich & fulfilled life they deserve.

Get in touch. We’d love to hear what you have to say. Let’s set up an initial conversation to chat about what you need from your money, now and in the years ahead.