New Name. New Home.
It's been a whopping 5 months since my last newsletter. The reason being my agony aunt style column - the raison d'être of this newsletter - has been in the process of leaving home and tbh I didn't want to jinx it. But I'm delighted to say the move is now complete. My column has had a little zhuzhy rebrand, changed its name to The Adviser's Dilemma, and settled into its' new home at Money Marketing.
Thank you to all at Money Marketing, but especially Tom Browne, Dan Cooper and Kimberley Dondo for welcoming me into the fold so warmly.
I'll continue to share each instalment on my blog ‘The Advisers Dilemma’ . You can also read all the past instalments on the Money Marketing site https://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/the-advisers-dilemma/
April's letter was from an adviser who was worried they did more harm than good in supporting a client with a complaint that's left them emotionally drained. Money Marketing have described it as 'a profound look at professional boundaries, client autonomy, and the emotional toll of long-term disputes. Essential reading for any adviser navigating the human side of finance'.
If you have a dilemma, a niggle or a doubt that you'd welcome a fresh perspective, please do submit your question anonymously (or not) on my website here.
In other news:
Spring has sprung - climatically speaking, but also in terms of the energy that's arrived at Emotional Finance these past few months. Momentum has been building, and I want to tell you aaallll about it.
Because entrepreneurship is flipping brutal at times. In the early months - I won't pretend otherwise - I found it really hard to tell whether the seeds I'd been so carefully planting were doing their quiet underground naturey thing, or just... sitting there. Many years ago, my therapist with whom I was in therapy to be a therapist (yes, that’s a thing) used to say to me - usually when I was catastrophising about my children - you can't pull up your carrots to check how they're growing. It turns out the same is entirely true of businesses. And patience has never been my strongest suit.
But oh, how wonderful to wait. How wonderful to see the green shoots appear. And to watch the early spring bulbs arrive with audacity and pomp - a vibe I’m very much here for.
If you're flourishing too after lots of hard and sometimes invisible work - high five. And if you're still in a harder, darker patch - I see you. Here’s a hug of solidarity. I've been there. Keep tending.
So, here are a couple of things that have been germinating with gusto...
Emotional Finance Peer Collective Groups
Oh what marvellous conversations I’ve been having with the very best people in this profession/industry (whevs to that by the way - it’s the way you actually show up that counts). Some awesome groupings are forming and I’m really excited to start opening the doors over the next month or two.
I had been a bit curious about why initial interest was overwhelmingly from women only - but a rousing LinkedIn re-post by the indomitable and brilliant Claer Barrett put paid to that skewed dynamic. Men aplenty now. Hooray.
If you’re interested in joining a Peer Group, I’d love to arrange a chat. Please do get in touch.
Peer groups offer small, curated and trusted private community (max 6 members per group) who meet monthly for a 90 minute session facilitated by me.
To join a peer group, you need to be willing to commit for a full year, to hold yourself to high professional standards, be curious, honest and to leave your ego at the door. All financial professionals are welcome, whatever your role or seniority.
In each group you’ll get:
The time and space to chew over and reflect on what matters most to you in your professional life
Support and challenge to help you think through complexity, make difficult decisions, uncover blind spots and discover new insights
Deeper connections with a curated group of professional peers who understand your challenges and successes and help you feel less alone
My Speaking Practice
This aspect of my work has really taken me by surprise. My overdramatic thirteen-year-old self who owned her 'main character energy' might have predicted it. In contrast, the post-children, grown-up version of me would have thought you were well and truly pulling my leg. But it’s actually true. Really actually.
Here are some of the events I’ve spoken at, and will be speaking at, over the next few months. Exciting!
EBI Webinar ‘Supporting Vulnerable Clients: A Practical Relational Approach’. January 2026
Financial Solutions AR and Adviser Community Event. March 2026.
Standard Life Ireland Network Conference. April 2026.
Money Marketing Interactive (Leeds). May 2026.
Advisor 3.0 May 2026.
CISI Financial Planning Conference October 2026.
CATS Annual Conference November 2026.
I have space in my diary for other keynote, breakout and workshop bookings should you be looking for someone to speak at your large scale industry gatherings or intimate in house events (jazz hands a’waving). I’ll bring a fresh lens to the relationships that define the work of financial services - and to the practical tools to strengthen them.
That’s it for now. As always, I’d love to hear from you with any comments, feedback or stories of your own.
Warmly,
Emma