Hallloooo one and all.

I do hope everyone's well and healthy!

Well, where do I begin?

Firstly, if you do get to the end of this LONG note - Thank you.

If you dan't can't that's fine. Just to say: drop me a line if you want to talk (it's described below if you want to know more).

Cheers.

Roland.

07920-072700

roland-ashdown.co.uk

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So, in NOV-2023, I got a "feeling" that there were going to be some lay offs at work. I then had a call out of the blue asking if I'd consider a career change in to Financial Advisory, and that planted a seed of being able to do something that I was genuinely interested in. That feeling I had came true (surprise surprise! - NOT) so I took the pay-off and finished end-MAY-2024; started a contract beginning-APR-2024, which was lucky. But I wasn't in a good way, it turns out, both mentally and physically.

After all this years of self abuse and believing I was still fit because I cycled 7 miles every morning) and not listening to people, my body decided enough, and gave me a heart attack at 51yrs old to make me listen!

Oh, boy did I listen...

Let me tell you, it's not like it's portrayed in the films (at least my experience wasn't). It felt like a stitch that lead to a tingle in my teeth. I was in Exeter working away and decided to drive home after I'd tried to call my GP. They called me on route to ask a few questions and then told me to go to Taunton & Somerset hospital for a check up (just to be on the safe side). I did and thought I'd be there all day (full; busy; Air Ambulances). Had a quick consultation after 5 mins. Had a triage a few mins later. Then BANG: "You've had a heart attack", they said! Then it got very busy very quickly, rushed into theatre treated whilst awake (and watching on the big screen) and in recovery after about 30mns.

Don't let them convince you the NHS is shit! It might be if there's nothing acute as they are stretched for a whole heap of reasons. But what a slick and professional bunch of people they are when they need to be!

Now, really REALLY fortunately for me (and my family), it was mild. No ripping my chest open; no scars; no stents; nothing like that.

But what a kick up the backside that gave me, and a stronger focus on what's really important.

It's been about 14 months since the attack, and a lot has changed:

I've changed the lifestyle completely and lost about 17kg (2.5 stone) of weight and 3" round the waist within 6 months (just changed my diet) and successfully went through cardio rehab. Since completing rehab, I've started running and do 5k every other day. And changed diet completely - a little in moderation - including alcohol. And I've totally packed in the cancer sticks! Saving a fortune!

Bottom line is that now, I feel healthier than I've every been, and the biggest fear that flashed before my eyes (not being there for my wife and kids) is put at bay for a while longer.

But it also kicked started my career change.

I used to do IT Programme delivery and spent some 35+ years getting to a leadership position. I never really liked it and wanted to get out. I tried in 2008 when I specialised in Sustainability on a Masters, but that didn't get anywhere.

Before all this health stuff happened, I'd spent about 4 years trying to get my own "house in order" financially but found it really difficult to find out how and source learning materials or people I could trust. I could go to professionals, but there was always an upfront cost and the "advice" was a regurgitation of stuff I told them.  But I really enjoyed it as the end result is I had worked out a few things and realised I had to change some ingrained behaviours to achieve some goals/targets. Still sounds quite Project Management to me! But the result is something of real value to a person - not a shareholder!

I'd also set up some Critical Illness cover and some life cover as I was spending most of my time contracting. I always used to joke that the wife and kids would be better off if I'd croak it - watch what you wish for!

So, there was a silver lining. I was able to get well without worrying how to pay the bills for a long while. And spend some quality time with the family.

I was also able to pick up from that question abut changing career.

So, after 5 industry exams (done in 5 months) and 3 months in a training academy, I'm a qualified and authorised Financial Planner. I've got the best of both worlds:

1) working for myself not hampered by inept managers thinking that life is all about meeting meaningless KPIs as that their defined measure of value

2) I've got the backing of St. James's Place (massive FTSE100 corporate) making sure that everything I do is compliant with the regulator and giving me the tools I need to succeed.

This may seem like a sales pitch and it is in a way; I'm starting my own business from scratch and using all the networking threads I can.

But this is really a offer of some space to chat, if you want to, about trying to find some peace of mind and security for you and your loved ones should you die, get ill or can't work along the way to living your best life. It's also more than just protecting things; it's about planning to achieve what you'd like and how together there. 

As a bloke of a certain age and from a certain background we might not feel comfortable talking about certain things. I get that. But let me say try before something happens that can change everything in a heart beat.

Cheers.