HomeGame 5: New Blood
We took HomeGame international! Well, at least to the opposite coast – we went to Glasgow in 2025. We had the IMAX screen in the Glasgow Science Centre for the main event, and there was some other surprises along the way…
We took HomeGame international! Well, at least to the opposite coast – we went to Glasgow in 2025. We had the IMAX screen in the Glasgow Science Centre for the main event, and there was some other surprises along the way…
We’ve always considered our HomeGame events to be the biggest financial services events in Scotland, but this time we meant it. We planned a huge day and aimed for it to become the destination event for the financial sector in Scotland.
THE DAY
We wanted to look to the future this year. We desperately need to increase visibility and improve the reputation out there of financial planning and advice. When most young people are asked to talk about careers in financial services, we hear about hedge funds, and fund management and sitting in front of three Bloomberg screens – all the things that AI will potentially disrupt and commoditise.
What we don’t hear about is the thing that will always stand the test of time – human relationships, trust and connection. So we need to get smarter at highlighting this.
At the same time, smart planners are starting to get proper gains from new technologies. If we are to attract new blood, there’s no point in introducing it to fax machines and microfiche.
So! New Blood took a TRIPLE track approach. We’re all about introducing a new audience to financial planning. We’re about showing how new technologies are already making a huge difference. And for people already in the sector, we’re about showing how you can attract the next generation of financial professionals.
HOW DID YOU DOING THAT THEN?
First of all, we took over Glasgow Science Centre for the day. This was an enormous playground and we made the most of it, using the amazing IMAX screen in the main theatre, the main reception hall for our expo and the first floor and Planetarium for our post-conference drinks.
Second – but more importantly – it won’t be your typical conference. We’ve split the audience into three. One third was planners, one third wwas the industry, but most excitingly a third was young people and educators. We wanted students and other young people to come along, learn about what planning is and see what an interesting and vibrant sector we have.
To do that we needed to make our day interesting and vibrant. So the agenda reflected the audience. We’ve partnered with Scottish Financial Enterprise and various schools, colleges and universities to make sure we engage everyone. We wanted to show the best of the profession – but we also wanted to hear from the planners of the future themselves, about what we can do better to attract them.
This isn’t a milkround, but one of the most exciting developments of the last few years is the advent of academies and structured programmes to get new blood into the sector. We had as many of them on hand as we could.
As you’d expect, we heard from progressive, interesting voices throughout the day. We looked over into other sectors who do better than us at this sort of thing. And because entertainment isn’t a dirty word we included some of that too.
But the centrepiece of the day was something that’s never been done before. Using as much new technology as we can possibly throw at it, we did Live Financial Planning, to show those who haven’t experienced it what it’s all about. And for those who know fine well what it is, we’ll show how two of Scotland’s most progressive planners incorporate technology to speed the process.
This was something that would normally take a couple of weeks. Our planners will have two hours. Their client was an actor who was briefed on three potential scenarios – the audience picked which we did (thank you, Charlie!), and the planners had no idea what any of them were. From that standing start our intrepid duo plus their onstage admin team needed to do discovery, goal setting, cashflow, and more.
It sounded hard, but they worked over the lunch break too.
Everything was visible to the audience in real time with cameras and more, and you could see how AI can speed the process along. It was live, unrehearsed and extremely risky, which is exactly how we like it.
New blood, new technology, new ways of working, new things to do at what we think was the biggest ever Scottish financial planning conference. That was HomeGame 5.
Adrian Murphy is the CEO of Murphy Wealth, a 48-year-old family business he has led for more than two decades. One of only a select few Registered Life Planners worldwide, Adrian is passionate about helping people align their wealth with their life goals. Under his leadership, the firm’s award-winning Human First™ approach to financial planning has earned recognition across the UK. A podcast host, regular speaker, and guest on other shows, Adrian champions financial wellbeing and living life on your own terms.
Launching an outsourced paraplanning service in 2009, Cathi unwittingly embarked on the journey that would result in Verve as we know and love today. With a passion for financial services and for breaking the mould, she uses her extensive experience, knowledge and qualifications to keep pushing new boundaries in a quest to help the industry evolve. In addition to her Fellowship and Certified qualifications, she is the proud owner of some wine knowledge certificates and mum to a Pokémon mad little boy.
Colin brings over 30 years of experience in supporting financial services professionals through every stage of their career development—both technically and personally. As Senior Relationship Manager for Scotland, he plays a key role in delivering high-quality professional development programmes for CISI members across the region. A long-standing advocate for professional qualifications, Colin is a Chartered Member of the CISI and also provides dedicated support for both the CISI Operations and Compliance Forums. Based in Glasgow, he lives with his wife and son.
Dilraj is the director of Equate Scotland, a national policy, research and development organisation focusing on women’s underrepresentation within the science, engineering, technology and the built environment industries. As programme lead, she directs the work of Equate Scotland through financial, strategic, people and policy management. Dilraj has worked in senior programme management, policy development and executive positions across a diverse range of not-for-profit organisations. She is also a former member of Scotland’s AI Alliance Leadership Group.
Helen Longland is a Chartered Financial Planner with 30 years’ experience. She has worked in financial services across a whole host of different roles. She is passionate about working in collaboration with others to help support firms in providing fantastic homes for the new talent needed for our profession to thrive into the future. Helping people to be the best they can be through professional and personal learning and development has been a key theme throughout her life and career and she is currently Principal Director of The Openwork Partnership Business School. This supports the learning and development of those within advice careers as well as those in associated support roles.
After initially pursuing a career as a hydrographic surveyor working on vessels within the North Sea and further afield, Jenny decided her feet were better on dry land rather than the high seas. Working with her sister Nicola, Jenny is now an experienced director of Wellington Wealth, ensuring the smooth running of the business and team. She enjoys art, crafts and organising the 'Office Bake-offs'. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors and has a passion for travelling the globe, putting her maps to good use.
Kirsty has worked in various roles including administrator, paraplanner and financial adviser. In 2017, she became a founding Director of Watson Wood Financial Planning, a firm aiming to provide the highest quality financial advice. In addition to client work, Kirsty has been involved in training/mentoring staff. She is passionate about helping young people and volunteers with various initiatives in this respect. Outside of work, three teenage boys keep Kirsty busy!
Laurence McGinty joined Tikker in August 2024 as chief operating officer. His previous experience as programme lead has seen him successfully deliver multi-million pound change programmes within various investment banks with projects spanning business, IT transformation and digital technology. He has also specialised in regulatory change and programme recovery.
Lewis Byford is a business owner and co-founder of The Financial Planning Club, a one-to-one consultancy and community home to the largest WhatsApp groups in the financial planning space. He also co-founded Antony George, the UK’s first subscription-based recruitment agency for financial planners. Passionate about culture, strategy, and growth, Lewis helps firms build meaningful networks and sustainable success. Outside of work, he enjoys yoga, cycling, journaling, and quality time with family and friends.
Lynsey is a Director in the Financial Services and Regulatory Team at the law firm Burness Paull and provides legal advice to a wide range of regulated clients, including financial advisers. She has also worked inhouse for platform, pension and insurance providers, principally advising on a wide range of commercial matters and regulatory rules, guidance and regulatory change projects. She is passionate about contributing to the future of financial services, and the recognising importance of financial planning.
Martin is a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society with over 20 years of professional experience. Specializing in holistic financial planning, he works closely with individuals and businesses to help them achieve long-term financial security and peace of mind. Martin is Chair of the Central Scotland PFS Committee, Deputy President of the Insurance and Actuarial Society of Glasgow and a trustee of the Addison’s Disease Charity.
Matthew is responsible for the growth and development of the M&G Advice Academy as it supports more people joining the financial advice profession. He's a Chartered Financial Planner, and Fellow of the PFS, with over 20 years’ experience across a range of roles including advising, training, and management. He believes the Academy plays a critical part in developing a new wave of talent, while making the profession more sustainable for the future.
Nicola is a music festival lover, champagne consumer, samba drummer and an award-winning Financial Planner and wife and mum of two feisty wee girls. In 2015 Nicola and her sister Jennifer set up Wellington Wealth, a boutique caring adviser firm in Glasgow city centre. Wellington Wealth work with individuals and family groups helping them to dream, plan and enjoy. With clients at the core, the firm’s mantra is ‘in every job there is an element of fun’.
Sandy Begbie CBE was appointed chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise in 2020. Prior to this, Sandy led the development of the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. He was also responsible for the global people, organisation and culture integration following the merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management. Sandy has held similar transformation and group HR director roles at Tesco Bank, Aegon, Scottish Power and Royal Bank of Scotland.
Stephen has been in financial services since he was 18 after joining a bank as a cashier before moving latterly into bancassurance. He then moved to work in paraplanning before becoming the head of the paraplanning team across two offices. He came back to giving advice around 11 years ago and spent 8 years working as an employed financial adviser. He made the leap to being his own boss in 2022 when he became a partner with Continuum to enable a better work life balance and spend more time with his wife and daughter.
Tom Whittle is the founder and CEO of Tikker, which was named Best in Show winner at the lang cat Catwalk 2025. With over two decades in banking, capital markets and wealth management, Tom launched Tikker in 2024 after being blown away by the time-consuming, manual processes involved in maintaining model portfolios across platforms. Tikker is on a mission to create simple software as a service products that streamline and automate these processes.
Duncan Airlie James is a professional actor, working in film, t.v., and theatre, and also other performer areas like professional role-play, public speaking, event hosting, etc. As a former six time World Thai / Kickboxing champion his hard and tough look, earned from years in the ring, combined with his creative talent, has seen him land roles in major feature films and t.v. series, along with some major commercials.
Multi award-winning standup comedian, improviser and storyteller Marjolein Robertson is one of the most exciting names on the circuit. Hailing from Shetland, the London-based performer was a finalist in the prestigious Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Awards 2024, and her 2024 Fringe show, ‘O’, was nominated for the Next Up Biggest Award in Comedy, achieving a full sellout run at Monkey Barrel and was officially named as one of the best-reviewed comedy shows at the festival by British Comedy Guide. Regularly weaving traditional Shetland folktales within her comedy, Marjolein is celebrated for her relatable yet often surreal onstage presence. She ranked third in The List’s Hot 100 as one of the top Scottish cultural contributors of 2023, was a BBC New Comedy Awards finalist in 2022 and won 2nd Place in the Funny Women Stage Awards. Marjolein was also awarded Scots Speaker of the Year in 2022.
Scottish Comedian Rosco McClelland is riding high on the current Scottish comedy revival, he’s one of its brightest stars with professional accolades to prove he is something special. In 2025, he was the winner of the Sir Billy Connolly Award, a prestigious award which aims to celebrate the city and the famous warmth, resilience, and humour of Glasgow. Twice nominated Best Newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards and winner of the Scottish Comedian of the year in 2016, his endearing onstage presence has impressed judges and audiences alike. Rosco was chosen as one of Chortle’s ‘Comedian’s to watch’ back in 2017 for his unique comedic voice. His offbeat musings and exaggerated visual imagery feel natural and not forced and he never fails to leave audiences wanting more. He has sold out shows at Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – continually bringing performances that show his comedic brilliance.
We provided the research for a report, in conjunction with Parmenion, which reveals how far short of expectations many adviser platforms are falling. The research found that over the last 12 months, 88% of advisers needed to apologise to at least one of their clients on behalf of a platform, and that poor service delivery from platforms impacts 91% of advisers every day.
We provided the research for a report, in conjunction with Parmenion, which reveals how far short of expectations many adviser platforms are falling. The research found that over the last 12 months, 88% of advisers needed to apologise to at least one of their clients on behalf of a platform, and that poor service delivery from platforms impacts 91% of advisers every day.
Service means a lot of things to a lot of different people. It’s so subjective it can be hard to put your finger on. This paper aims to challenge the status quo and inertia that’s built up in the sector for many years.
