Team news
Published on April 16, 2025 by Blackstone
A Change of Scenery
After the usual tax year end dash – those final flurries of pension and ISA top-ups – we took a moment to press pause last week.
It’s become a bit of a tradition for us every 90 days or so. Step back, breathe, and check that the work we’re doing is still moving us in the direction we want it to. No spreadsheets, no Wi-Fi passwords – just the team round a table, this time with proper coffee and without the buzz of fluorescent lighting.
Swapping the office for a local pub gave us the headspace to reflect after a period that’s been busy in more ways than one – not just with client deadlines, but the wider sense of turbulence, particularly with the political theatrics playing out on the other side of the pond.
We asked ourselves the usual questions:
- What’s working?
- What’s not?
- And what are the non-negotiables we want to hold firm on over the next 90 days?
Those anchors – the things that matter most – are what help us stay focused when the noise gets louder or the pace picks up.
So as we move into a new quarter, we do so with a bit more clarity, and a little less caffeine dependency.
A Surprise on the Water
The Sunday before Easter saw Gareth trading his usual routines for something a little more tranquil – a slow cruise down the Brecon canal aboard a narrowboat, in celebration of his mum’s 75th birthday.
She thought they were off to the garden centre. (It was, admittedly, quite a scenic detour.) But waiting quietly on the moored boat, hidden behind curtains and cupboard doors, was the full Chalk family – who had travelled from Edinburgh, Manchester and Ipswich to be there.
The surprise was a long time coming. A near-identical plan had been pencilled in to mark her 70th, but – like so many things that year – Covid put everything on hold. Since then, there’s been several years of quiet planning, diary-juggling and the occasional close call, but it all came together beautifully.
Once the shock wore off, the boat set off gently along the canal, giving the family time to enjoy a peaceful stretch of Welsh countryside and a good catch-up – all before heading back for a relaxed birthday meal.
It was, Gareth said, a day full of warmth, laughter, and no small amount of cake. And, most importantly, a proper celebration for someone who means the world to them all.
Joe Crosses a Key Milestone
Congratulations are in order for Joe, who’s recently passed his R06 exam – a significant step on the journey towards becoming a fully qualified financial adviser.
For those less familiar with the inner workings of adviser exams, R06 is the one that brings everything together. It’s less about memorising technical details and more about applying knowledge in a real-world, client-focused way – testing not just what you know, but how you think and plan. In short, it’s the final piece of the puzzle needed to gain authorisation to give advice.
This marks an important milestone for Joe, who joined the team as a trainee adviser last year and has brought energy, curiosity and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Passing R06 means he’s now met the qualification requirements to advise clients – a major achievement in what’s been a busy and focused year.
True to form, he’s not stopping there. With his sights now set on further advanced qualifications, he’s continuing to build both his technical knowledge and practical experience, with an eye on becoming the kind of well-rounded adviser our clients can really rely on.
Well done, Joe – a brilliant effort and a big step forward.
A Weekend in the Capital for Louise (With a Slight Detour)
Louise spent the first weekend of April in London with her husband and sons, enjoying a well-earned break and a bit of family time – or at least, that was the plan.
What wasn’t mentioned until they arrived was that Saturday afternoon had been quietly earmarked for football. So, while the boys headed off to watch Cardiff City suffer through a disappointing nil-nil draw against QPR (not quite the result they were hoping for), Louise was “left” to spend a peaceful few hours shopping solo.
Needless to say, she wasn’t too put out – and returned from her afternoon considerably happier than the rest of the party. A reminder, perhaps, that not all goals need to be scored on a pitch.