Sam Oakes
Sam Oakes BIOGRAPHY
Award-winning podcast host Sam Oakes spent 16 years building a leading recruitment firm for the financial planning profession, which he successfully exited. which he successfully exited earlier this year. He also created Financial Planner Life, which has gone on to become a leading podcast and media platform spotlighting career opportunities in the financial planning space. Sam’s career began in financial services at Aviva, where he worked as a trainer, educating staff on financial products. The turning point came when Sam realised he wanted more control over his future and earning potential. At the age of 27, he took a bold step into recruitment, specialising in financial planning. Within just 18 months, he became a 50% partner at Recruit UK, a company he would later help transform into a B-Corp.
During his time leading Recruit UK, Sam fostered a purpose-driven culture, working with some of the UK’s top financial planning firms. His focus on people, planning, and purpose laid the foundation for a successful business, driven by innovation and ethics. Yet, as his passion for marketing grew, Sam’s attention shifted towards a larger purpose: the future of the financial planning profession. Recognising a massive talent shortage in the industry, Sam saw that nobody was talking about what it was really like to work in financial planning. This led to the creation of the Financial Planner Life Podcast, a platform where he interviews industry professionals at all stages of their careers, giving them a voice to share their stories, and in turn, attract new talent to the profession.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sam is a strong advocate for mental health. He served on the board of Talk Club, a charity focused on men’s mental fitness, and openly shares his own experiences with mental health challenges. His advocacy for mental wellbeing is woven into everything he does, ensuring that personal growth and support remain central to his mission. Sam’s philosophy centers around collaboration, not competition. Through the Financial Planner Life Podcast, he encourages the financial planning profession to come together, share ideas, and grow collectively. His vision is clear: to reduce the advice gap, attract more talent, and foster a profession that is inclusive, diverse, and innovative.
With over 70,000 followers across platforms and an ever-growing international reach (expanding to the UAE, Australia, and the USA) Sam continues to help people at every stage of their financial planning career.
Sam Oakes SOCIAL MEDIA
WEBSITE LINK
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: FINANCIAL PLANNER LIFE
ARTICLE NEWS
MONEY MARKETING
MONEY MARKETING
Apple Top 10 Podcast - Careers Chart
Awards won:
- Podcast of the year
- TOP 100 INFLUENTIAL
As Featured In:
- Financial Times Adviser: UK
- International Adviser
- IFA Magazine
- Professional Adviser
- Citywire
- NextGen Planners
- Money Marketing
- Financial Planning Today