2025 highlights: Celebrating a year of growth, learning, and gratitude

From promotions to award ceremonies, last year I learned there’s never a dull moment in the life of a financial planner.

2025 was truly a year to remember. As it came to an end, I had time to pause and reflect on some of the milestones and celebrations that made last year so special. As we settle into 2026, I wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates with you.

Read on to discover the highlights of 2025 and join me in raising a glass (or a brew) to another great year ahead.

Three cheers for Ryan Edwards, our new financial planner

First up, you may already be aware that the wonderful Ryan Edwards has now officially qualified as a financial planner.

Having been with me since the very beginning as a client relationship manager, it’s been a joy to see Ryan grow into the next chapter of his career. I am confident that both our practice and clients will benefit from the blend of younger and older, male and female perspectives.

Please join me in congratulating Ryan on all his hard work and exciting promotion. Well done, Ryan, and here’s to the next chapter!

I’m delighted to have been promoted from associate to senior partner

Early last year, I was thrilled to be promoted to senior partner at Foster Denovo.

Having first joined the team in an administrative role, I’m proud of how far I have come in such a short period of time. I feel truly blessed to have found a rewarding career that I love in my early 50s.

2025 was a fulfilling year surrounded by a fantastic team, and I’m excited to see what 2026 has in store.

Money Marketing’s Rising Star of the Year 2025

In September, I attended the 2025 Money Marketing Awards in London. It was a fantastic evening celebrating and connecting with some brilliant people from the world of financial advice.

I was honoured to be named Rising Star of the Year, an award recognising new financial planners who deliver tangible, positive results for both clients and the financial advice profession.

Standing on the stage to receive my award is certainly a moment I won’t forget, and one that inspires me to keep learning and growing.

Foster Denovo’s Top Associate Partner of the Year 2024

At the start of the year, I was also proud to receive Foster Denovo’s Top Associate Partner award for 2024.

After achieving my professional goal of being in Foster Denovo’s top 10 for new business, it was truly an honour to receive this recognition for the work I love doing with clients – particularly given the stiff competition in the Foster Denovo team!

The awards dinner was a great night, full of celebrations for the hard work and achievements of our amazing team. Well done to everyone who was shortlisted for an award.

Championing empathy in financial planning: an interview with Money Marketing

In August, I was delighted to sit down with Money Marketing to talk about the value of truly listening to clients when offering financial advice.

For me, empathy and emotional support are such vital parts of financial advice. I believe that, by listening deeply, financial planners can better support their clients by understanding their fears, dreams, and motivations.

As you might already know, I’m driven by my mission to help empower and educate more women to manage their finances with confidence. So, it was great to have the opportunity to discuss what that goal means to me, and what I think the industry can do better.

You can read the full interview here.

Empowering women financially and in their careers: an interview with FTAdviser

Last but not least, I had the joy of being featured in FTAdviser to discuss my path into financial planning, and what advice I would offer to women just starting out in the field.

Ultimately, I believe it’s vital for women to back themselves early on – regardless of the career path. Always trust that you belong in the room and your voice matters, even if you’re the least experienced person there.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve learnt that you don’t need to know all the answers. What matters more is being able to listen to, understand, and guide clients with honesty and care.

In my interview, I also touched on how women tend to approach financial planning, and how I think women can be better supported through the new challenges ahead. I’m passionate about reshaping the relationship women have with their money, so it was great to be given this platform to talk about empowering women financially.

You can read the full interview here.

Find out how I can support you

If you’re looking for support in achieving your financial goals in the new year and beyond, email me at Marnel.Stafford@fosterdenovo.com or call 07305 970959 or 0207 469 2800 to get in touch.