Debbie Jukes
This article has been taken from Equinox Autumn 26 – the full version can be found here.
For more than three decades, Colin dedicated himself to Equilibrium, its team and its clients, and throughout that time, he understood the importance of balancing ambition with care. His belief that proper financial planning should make people’s lives better became the principle that continues to guide the firm’s decisions today.
Starting from scratch
Colin was always candid about being dyslexic and dyspraxic, joking that he and school disliked each other equally. He left without qualifications and set his sights on the armed forces, but mild asthma closed that door.
“His entrepreneurial talents were remarkable, his personality huge, as were his benevolence, drive and enthusiasm, and his ready smile was always welcoming.” Brian & Jen, long-serving clients
His next move was an Automobile Association apprenticeship on £27.30 a week. The smart cars and sharp suits at the Norwich Union office next door caught his eye, and soon he had moved into financial services, first there and then at Britannia Life. Within two years, he was a top performer, although corporate life was never a natural fit.
In 1995, aged just 25 years old, Colin set up on his own from his back bedroom. No clients, no experience of running a business and by his own admission, no real business plan. He would see anybody, anywhere, about anything. Two years of that approach left him working double the hours of his previous employed role, for half his old salary.
Learn from those who’ve done it before
So, Colin sat down and worked out who he wanted to look after and concluded it was people at or near retirement. There was one problem with this though, at 27 years old he didn’t know any older people with investable assets.
Out of that came one of his favourite lessons, and one he repeated to everyone he ever mentored. Whatever the obstacle in front of you, find somebody who has already been there and ask for their help. They will almost always give you their time and expertise and in Colin’s case, this led to the introduction of our seminar programme.
“I will remember him as a true entrepreneur, someone with an incredible business brain and aptitude for problem solving.”Billy, professional friend
“No version of a world exists which is better off without such a decent guy in it. Proof that you don’t need ego to run a brilliant business.” Mark, industry tribute
Help came from a gentleman called John who was an expert in putting on client seminars and events. The small issue with John’s advice was that it would cost around £30,000 that Colin didn’t have, so he sold his car, maxed out the overdrafts and credit cards and did it anyway.
However, as was often the way with Colin, if he turned his hand to something it usually worked out, and this was no different.
Equilibrium as you know it
In Colin’s mind, having the technical qualifications to give financial advice was just the starting line, so he became what he cheerfully called a ‘learning junkie’. The ideas and principles he adopted during those early years became the foundations of Equilibrium and still shape the client experience today. One example was the “Unique Ability” concept, which he discovered through the coaching company, Strategic Coach. Essentially, this is the one thing you as a person are genuinely excellent at, that fills your energy tank rather than draining it and that you would do even if nobody paid you. Colin quickly realised that managing a growing team was not his unique ability, and this realisation led to him hiring me in 2001!
“He learned from the best people he could find, surrounded himself with talented people, shared what he learned and then, something many people forget to do, got on with it.”Karl, close friend
Then he applied the same concept to our financial planners, and the answer was obvious. A financial planner’s unique ability is sitting with clients, so Colin went about removing everything else from their week. If something could be done by somebody else, and done better, it was. That is why our paraplanners, known as client managers, sit in client meetings, take notes and handle any follow-up queries and paperwork. And why your planner has time for what they do best, helping clients plan.
Equally important was Colin’s belief that the business must be run as a business. His salary was his to keep, but the profits belonged to the firm and existed to be reinvested for whatever improvements were necessary. Almost everything good at Equilibrium was paid for that way.
“Colin transformed the way we approached our financial affairs. He believed we should leave a powerful legacy and set us on the way to achieving that.” Ronnie & Mary, long-serving clients
What we stand for
In the early 2010s, Equilibrium was a good business, but Colin still felt the firm could be better. It started with a simple observation, we spend more time with colleagues than with family and friends, so we should make working at Equilibrium as rewarding as possible. Look after the team first, and the team will then look after the clients.
We agreed four values, which were never platitudes for a wall but instead stars to guide decisions.
- Excellence; because if we could not truly be excellent at something we would rather not do it at all.
- Simplicity; because our job is to make a complex, heavily regulated profession feel simple for clients.
- Integrity; meaning we do the right thing always, especially if nobody is watching.
- Growth; for the business and for every individual associated with it.
Above all of those sits a single purpose, “make people’s lives better”. There’s a common saying that culture eats strategy for breakfast, but Colin disagreed. Culture, he said, is the strategy.
“A very inspiring leader who I will always remember.” Jorge, former team member
Live, love, legacy
For years though, Colin could not explain ‘how’ we made people’s lives better; he just knew that we did. After a lot of internal discussions and observing client meetings, our former marketing lead described the ‘how’ as ‘we make clients’ lives better by helping them live the life they want to live, look after those they love, and leave a powerful legacy’. Thank you, Rachel!
Live. Love. Legacy. This became the basis of how we do financial planning. Colin had a favourite way of making the legacy point. Do you know your father’s middle name? Your grandfather’s? Your great-grandfather’s? Most people give up around the second question. Now imagine that great-grandfather had set up a fund that paid for the education of every generation since, and there was still money remaining for your grandchild. That, Colin would say, is a powerful legacy, and it is one that several of our client families have created.
“I’ll always remember him as positive, slightly mental and the most charismatic person ever.”Mark, former team member
Continuing what Colin started
Last year, Equilibrium accepted outside investment from Sovereign Capital Partners to support the firm’s growth and provide additional expertise. Colin knew some might shudder at the thought, but his approach to making such big decisions was simple: if you took the money out of the equation, what would you do? He firmly believed it was the right decision for clients, the team and the firm’s future. Ultimately, it proved to be the best decision he made.
Sadly, Colin died in August this year, aged 56, following a short battle with cancer. We remain committed to his goal of building the first high-quality, national firm with values, purpose and mission at the heart of everything we do.
Colin cared deeply about helping others and wanted that commitment to continue long into the future. Through the Equilibrium Charitable Trust, our Donor Advised Fund (DAF), he hoped to help clients make their own charitable giving more meaningful, with the aim of growing the fund to more than £50m. His commitment was personal too as he pledged a significant sum to the DAF not long before he passed.
“Some people leave footprints on the hearts of others.” Diana, team member
Colin was not, in the end, able to see these goals through with us, but we intend to see them through for him. His values remain at the heart of Equilibrium, as does the question he brought to every conversation: “How can we make your life better?”
Even at his funeral, Colin had the last word, choosing Queen’s “Another one bites the dust” as the closing song. It was bold, funny and unmistakably him!
