Stuart Budgen

Entrepreneurial, innovative Director & Leader with 20+ years’ experience building & upscaling three customer-centric Independent Financial Services start-ups, using strong financial, operational, commercial & transformational skills. M&A, Restructures; led the successful sale of Apollo MAM Group Ltd, developing & implementing the sale proposition to maximise profitability, aligning technological systems, and streamlining processes to minimise customer disruption.

Strong Strategic Planning skills: working as a pivotal member of the Board/executive team, significantly contributes to organisational development, transformational change, growth, and service/process improvement strategies. Exemplary leader; building high-performing teams across all functions, including IT, HR, Research, Client Services and Risk & Compliance; developing talent, managing change effectively and setting challenging KPIs to deliver objectives. Quality & Process Improvement driver; spearheading business transformation, modernisation, and process re-engineering programmes to propel commercial activity, identify operating efficiencies & deliver operational and service improvements.

Head of Integration - Perspective Financial Group Ltd - UK

(2023-03)

Appointed to lead the integration of acquired IFA businesses into Perspective’s national group structure, ensuring minimal disruption, regulatory compliance, and maximum operational and cultural alignment:

• Led full end-to-end integration programmes, covering operations, compliance, HR, finance, IT, and client communications.
• Developed and implemented strategic integration plans to ensure smooth business transition and successful embedding of firms into Perspective’s infrastructure.
• Oversaw due diligence and supported pre-acquisition strategy development.
• Delivered synergies through cultural alignment, system migrations, and process harmonisation.
• Regularly reported to the Board on integration performance, risk, and outcomes.
• Built teams & systems to integrate 30+ acquisitions per annum

Chair of Product Selection & Investment Committee - Perspective Financial Group Ltd - UK

(2023-03)

Chosen to lead the evaluation, governance, and selection of investment and financial planning products across the national IFA network. Focused on driving consistent client outcomes, regulatory compliance, and commercial performance through a robust and forward-thinking product governance framework.

• Managed the creation and oversight of the firm’s centralised investment and product selection process.
• Chaired the Product & Investment Committee, ensuring alignment with client suitability, ESG standards, and evolving market trends.
• Evaluated and approved investment propositions, platforms, insurance products, and discretionary fund manager (DFM) relationships
• Conducted market analysis to identify best-in-class providers and solutions across the retail investment spectrum.
• Worked collaboratively with Compliance, Finance, and Advice Policy teams to maintain Consumer Duty and regulatory compliance.
• Provided strategic input to proposition development and marketing, supporting adviser growth and client engagement
• Ensured data-driven monitoring of product performance, risk, and client outcomes.

Founder & Holding Board Director - Apollo MAM Group Ltd - Surrey, UK

(2018 - 2022-12)

Designated after Trust Will Plan/Apollo merger as holding co. board member, and to run the UK business. Achievements:

• Strategic Design, M&A: Defined and implemented a strategy to enable both acquisition activity and the ultimate sale of the business. Instrumental in maximising company performance and profitability. A 2-year process involving system alignment & process improvement, staff TUPE, and client migration. Managed legal compliance (SMS16/17).
• Regulatory Governance & Integration: Gained full regulatory approval through successful compliance control. Smooth client integration via successful integration of technology already in place with minimal amendments.
• Team Management & Leadership: Hired and successfully trained a high-performing team, enabled success and retention through impactful training, mentoring and management of expectations. Avoided disruption and maintained strong team relations through COVID office closures, keeping collaborative culture. Enabling management style, supportive but hands-off, giving strategic direction and relatable implementation roadmaps.
• One of 8 board members with an integral role in developing top-level strategies and expansion plans
• Directs all M&A activities, horizon scanning to identify and evaluate potential acquisition targets, aligning technological requirements, and minimising client impact.
• As a Chartered Planner, takes responsibility for all defined benefit pension transfers and financial planning, always maintaining a high level of compliance.

Founder & Compliance Director, then UK Managing Director - Trust Will Plan Ltd - Surrey, UK

(2015 - 2022-12)

Established and grew Total Wealth Planning, instrumenting a 50/50 company merger with Apollo in 2018 to create a separate regulated legal entity, subsequently assumed the board position of UK managing Director. Selected achievements:

• Business Expansion: Established and led the growth of independent UK financial advisory company Total Wealth Planning in 2015 to 7 planners, with £155m FUM, before instrumenting company merger Apollo Multi Asset Management 09/2018. Subsequently appointed MD of the UK business of TWP and since 2018 has instrumented company growth from £155m FUM to £287m FUM both via organic growth and M&A
• Organisational Design & Governance: Post-merger in 2018, led organisational design building a fit-for-purpose board, leadership team, & governance structure: Appointed a Chair, directors of Compliance, Finance & Operations, and Sales and set up a Product & Investment Committee (to ensure risk management & regulatory compliance) & Technology Committee (to identify systems efficiencies). Before 2018, built (now leads) a robust operational infrastructure of 26 people, including HR, IT, Finance, Pla
• Leadership: Drives all talent and training initiatives, with 90% of planners now having reached the Chartered level
• M&A: Has evaluated, led due diligence, and taken to Heads of Terms 6-7 acquisition targets, successfully purchasing two IFA firm acquisitions – one before 2018 (adding 600 clients & £15m FUM) and one in 2020 (adding 80 clients & £50m FUM). Subsequently, led full successful (people/systems/culture/policies)
• ESG: Leads the ESG sustainability & responsible investment programme to differentiate the organisation, promote ethical investments, drive operational efficiency, and protect employees and the wider community.
• Setting vision, growth plan & strategies to enhance operations, portfolio development, governance & risk mitigation
• Contributing at a strategic level into policies, quality standards, pricing, marketing communications/branding
• Key point of contact for FCA regulatory audits and solely authorised to approve high risk pension transfers
• Managing the smooth running of all operational functions including IT, HR, Planning, Risk & Compliance
• Providing independent financial advice, including pensions and investments to high-net-worth individuals.

Operations & Compliance Director - Francis Clark Financial Planning - Devon, UK

(2014 - 2015)

The largest accountancy & financial planning group in the Southwest, which provide Financial Planning and independent financial advice for corporate & private clients. Selected achievements:

• Launched a full operational review, establishing requirements & instigating changes which lead to increased T/O
• Activated a complete overhaul of compliance processes & procedures in light of RDR, BRAW, Pension reviews & TCF
• Improved training and development across the company, with a focus on moving to Chartered status
• Reorganised and refocused two underperforming offices, moving from bottom quartile to top quartile
• Recruited and trained high performing individuals across, Advisory, IT, Research, Planning and Risk & Compliance
• Established a Pensions & Investments offering including ISAs, Trusts, Pensions and Bonds and grew personal fee income from zero to £300k per annum.
• Working at board level, managing operations and developing compliance organisational strategies by contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction
• Establishing functional objectives in line with organisational objectives
• Providing independent financial advice, including pensions and investments to High-Net-Worth individuals.

Founder Director & Chief Operating Officer - Entire Wealth Management - Surrey, UK

(2009 - 2013)

Co-founding and growing a successful independent financial advisory & investment management firm. Key achievements:

• Led EWM through the UK Retail Distribution Review (RDR) transition; ensured all investment advisors were up to level 4 qualification benchmark before regulator deadline & transformed business model from 80% commission based to fee-based; managed the complex revision of client ToB to acceptable FSA regulator standards.
• Fostered client relationships which contributed £20m to Funds Under Management, with £150k annual fee revenue.
• Co-developed an Environmental Sustainability/CSR Programme to differentiate the organisation, promote ethical investments and drive operational sustainability, resulting in media interest and BBC interviews.
• Created a product portfolio (high/low-risk investments, pensions, protection, mortgages, trust planning, inheritance tax)
• Key strategic level role in policies, quality standards, pricing, marketing communications/branding
• Built & managing the smooth running of all operational functions, including HR, IT, Finance and Risk & Compliance.

Senior Independent Financial Advisor - Libra Financial Planning Ltd - Surrey

(2002 - 2009)

• Held a dual Senior Independent Advisory and strategic Operational role, playing a major role in growing the business from £150k to £1.4m fee income and improved sustainability/carried the business through the credit crisis by transforming the Operating Model from Mortgages into Pensions & Investments
• Fostered alliances with key introducers (accountants, solicitors etc.) from which referrals constituted 60% of annual t/o and introduced a robust ‘fit for growth’ operational infrastructure including remote access IT systems, Risk & Compliance Frameworks and a dedicated team of 14 staff comprising of IFAs, compliance, planners and researchers.

Independent Financial Advisor - Layton Blackham - London

(2000 - 2002)

Niche IFA firm.

• Consistently achieved targets, writing more than £150k Y1 and £180k Y2, with limited 5% commission ceiling.

Financial Planner (Won several awards) - Woolwich IFA Services

(1997 - 2000)

MSc. - Financial Planning (2022)

BA (Hons) - Contemporary East European Studies - UCL (1991 - 1994)