Get to know our team - Lachy

Lachy, a Director of Create, has worked in financial services for 13 years. He’s a Certified Financial Planner who completed his Advanced Financial Planning with Distinction.

Aussie born and bred, Lachy has called Scotland home for the last 10 years and lives in South Aberdeenshire with his wife and two young children.

Current clients will know about Lachy’s obsession with continually learning everything there is to know about the finance world through reading, podcasts, YouTube, and many, many conversations! But here are some things you might not know about him.

What made you choose this career?

I was planning my retirement from the first day I turned up to work after leaving school. Having spent nearly a year saving I started investing when 19 with the aim to retire at 30. Social nights out with my KPMG colleagues often turned into people asking financial questions. It wasn’t until I thought of leaving that I spoke with a friend’s father who was a financial adviser and enlightened me that there’s a profession that involves helping others and talking about finances all day. I started in the profession the day after my 30th birthday.

What’s the best bit about your job?

Helping people get to where they want to be to live a happy life.

What are some upcoming issues you foresee for clients?

I could go into great detail about the tightening fiscal environment, but after becoming a parent I see the biggest issue for my clients is managing time and stress. The focus of planning should always be on what people are trying to achieve. This is often tied to family, holidays, time, and rarely involves £ signs.

When reframing the focus from money to purpose, often the optimal financial decision won’t deliver the best outcome for the individual.

What’s one thing you always like to splash the cash on, and one thing you prefer to save on?

Silly hobbies like coffee. Whoever said that making coffee at home would save you money hasn’t been to my house. On the bright side, I’m now mildly competent at plumbing and electrics.

I don’t impulse buy. I would prefer to spend 20 hours researching a £10 item and wait until Black Friday to save a few pennies.

What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend?

As a dad of a toddler and a baby – coffee, good food, walks and playparks sums up life right now.

What’s your favourite place to eat or drink in the local area?

Skateraw in Newtonhill is our local. Always great coffee, cakes, and company found there. Don’t ask me for dinner recommendations until we’re allowed to leave the house post 7pm again!

What are two things on your bucket list?

The first is to make sure I’m a huge part of my kids’ lives through every step of growing up and beyond.

The second would be to open up a distillery/coffee roastery!