“I think it just highlights that we need to be more visible and we need to put ourselves out there.”
This is something that Akik has taken active steps to address, promoting himself on LinkedIn.
“I think social media presence is absolutely huge because it's where everyone is,” he added.
“When I get on the train in the morning, pretty much everyone is on LinkedIn, Tiktok, Instagram, that's where their attention is, so we need to be there.”
Understanding
Additionally, Akik also talked about his path into financial advice and how it has given him an appreciation for building close relationships with his clients.
He recalled that, in university, he studied psychology with a view to becoming a clinical psychologist but, during his education, he became disillusioned with the subject.
“I started to realize that what I actually liked about the course was sitting in front of people, speaking to them, and understanding them,” he said.
“As a result I started to realize that there are so many jobs where you can do that, and I think especially in this role, you need to understand people.
“You have to understand them to get the best for them, we're not recommending the same thing with every single person, It's purely based on them.”
He emphasised that being able to understand where clients stand and where they come from and the way they think about things is “far more important” than any simple kind of tax saving advice that industry professionals can give.
“You can save people money and people will always love that, but I think what people want more is they want to be understood, and they want a plan that works for them,” he explained.
Akik attributed his interest in this area specifically to his psychology background, arguing it has made him look at the job in a “unique way”
“My priority is to make people win and understand what makes them tick,” he said.
“I think everyone wants to be understood and everyone wants to work with someone that understands them.
“If you understand people properly, you'll always get the best outcomes for them, because you're always going to be on the same page.”
tom.dunstan@ft.com
If you would like to be featured in our New Voices series, or you know someone who would be a good fit please get in touch with Tom Dunstan at tom.dunstan@ft.com
