Spotlight Series: Get to know Finlay Wilson

Building a career in financial planning is about more than qualifications, it’s about curiosity, perspective, and a genuine desire to help people achieve what matters most to them.

In this Q&A, we catch up with Finlay Wilson, Financial Planner at Carbon, to hear about his journey from Graduate Trainee to Financial Planner, what inspires him in his role, and the key financial issues he believes clients should be thinking about over the next decade. From navigating market volatility to planning legacies with confidence, Finlay shares what financial planning really looks like from the inside.

Talk us through your career to date

I started at Carbon in 2022 as a Graduate Trainee, joining the client support team. I worked in client support until 2024, achieving my Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning during that time. I then moved into the Paraplanning team, where I gained valuable technical experience supporting advisers and developing financial planning strategies for clients.

Since then, I have progressed into a Financial Planner role, where I now work directly with clients, helping them make informed decisions about their finances and supporting them in achieving their long-term goals. Throughout my career at Carbon, I have been fortunate to gain experience across several areas of the business, giving me a strong understanding of the full client journey and the value that effective financial planning can bring.

Tell us about your role at Carbon and what you enjoy most about it

As a Financial Planner, I work directly with clients to help them understand their financial position, identify opportunities and create plans that support their goals and aspirations. My role involves building long-term relationships with clients, providing ongoing advice and ensuring their plans remain aligned with their changing circumstances and objectives.

I also continue to work closely with colleagues across the planning and paraplanning teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients.

My favourite part of the role is meeting clients. Our clients are always interesting people, often with equally interesting financial situations, and sometimes both. Every conversation is different and presents a new opportunity to help someone achieve something that is important to them, whether that's retiring with confidence, supporting their family, growing a business or leaving a legacy.

What is it about your role that excites and inspires you?

Hearing about our clients’ goals and aspirations and then helping them turn those ambitions into reality.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is seeing clients achieve goals they may have thought were out of reach. Whether it’s taking a long-awaited bucket list trip, helping children onto the property ladder, stepping back from work earlier than expected or creating financial security for future generations, it's incredibly satisfying to see the positive impact good planning can have on people's lives.

I particularly enjoy working with business owners and families, helping them navigate important financial decisions and create plans that support both their current lifestyle and future ambitions.

From your perspective, what are they key financial issues to be aware of over the next 10 years?

A significant issue for many clients is the changing inheritance tax treatment of pensions. With pensions coming into scope for inheritance tax from April 2027, many individuals and families are having to take a more active approach to legacy planning. In some cases, what was previously a relatively modest inheritance tax liability has become much more substantial.

We help clients understand their capacity to spend, gift and support their families during their lifetime, while also exploring more complex planning solutions where appropriate, such as trusts and other estate planning structures.

Another key issue is market volatility. In recent years we have seen markets react to geopolitical events, economic uncertainty and rapid technological developments. While no one can predict when periods of volatility will occur, investors can prepare for them by maintaining appropriate cash reserves, investing in line with their risk tolerance and focusing on long-term objectives rather than short-term market movements.

What is the most important piece of advice you give to clients?

Start with your end goal in mind, we'll help you figure out the rest.

One of the first things we do with new clients is understand what their ideal lifestyle looks like, regardless of their current financial situation. Too often we hear statements such as, "I don't think I can afford to retire until I'm 65" or "We could never afford a holiday like that every year."

In reality, these assumptions are often based on uncertainty rather than fact. By understanding what clients want from life first, we can then build a financial plan around those goals and provide clarity on what is achievable. Financial planning works best when it starts with the life you want to live and then works backwards from there.

If Finlay’s perspective resonates with you and you’d like support turning your goals into a clear, achievable plan, we’re here to help. You can reach us on 0131 220 0000 or email enquiries@carbonfinancial.co.uk.