
Breaking the silence: Overcoming consumer reluctance in debt recovery
The reluctance of consumers to engage with their debts is one of the most challenging – and yet most common – barriers to overcome in debt recovery.
Browse all articles across people aspects of regulation and people development within UK financial services

The reluctance of consumers to engage with their debts is one of the most challenging – and yet most common – barriers to overcome in debt recovery.

We may know what EBITDA means, but what it stand for? “Bullshit earnings” — that’s how the late Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, famously described EBITDA.

The financial services sector faces a unique challenge with AI adoption. While technology promises operational efficiency and enhanced customer outcomes, the stakes are higher than in any other industry. One misstep can result in regulatory breaches, customer harm, and reputational damage that takes years to repair.

As a father of twin, near-20-year-old sons, it has always struck me how different their lives are from my life at their age. The differences are so numerous and so stark as not to warrant listing.

Five years after COVID-19 forced the world’s largest work-from-home experiment, we have a fundamentally transformed employment landscape. What began as an emergency response has evolved into a permanent restructuring of how, where, and when we work.

The financial services sector has always evolved with pace, but in recent years, that evolution has accelerated. Emerging technologies, new regulations, and shifting customer expectations are placing increasing pressure on firms to be not only reactive but also proactive when it comes to workforce capability.

The email hit Noah’s inbox at 9:00 a.m. sharp. “Mandatory Compliance Training – Please Complete by Friday.” Noah sighed. Another dry, text-heavy module filled with regulations, policies and consequences. They clicked on the first slide. It was exactly as expected – a corporate voice lecturing on risk management, conduct rules and cyber hygiene.

At the end of 2024, I was flattered to be asked by the editor of The HR Director to write a feature on Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

Vulnerability and the link to the advice gap is something I have written about in previous articles, and these are key considerations for advice firms who are thinking about their strategic positioning and business growth plans. I would like to throw something else into the mix.

With so much interesting news around, I run the risk of simply adding column inches commenting about what is going on in the world. I shall try to add my own slant by considering how the geopolitical situation may affect how financial advice is provided in the UK.

Cyber threats continue to evolve at an alarming pace, posing significant risks to financial institutions and service providers across the UK and Europe.

Ah, technology—a shiny, irresistible lure. It promises efficiency, speed, and innovation. Every business wants it, and who wouldn’t? The fear of being left behind can make us jump at every new tool, app, or platform that catches our eye – especially if we see others that we know doing just that!