Chris Smallwood

FA: As a former national sales director of Positive Solutions, why did you choose to step away and start your own company? How challenging has been the transition and were there any difficulties along the way?

CS: From a transition point of view, that was not an issue in the sense that when I joined Positive Solutions there were probably only 40 advisers at the time, and I was hugely instrumental in the growth and success of that company. However, there were some differences highlighted in the end, in what to offer the advisers in the UK, which was somewhat different to the rest of the board.

Now, the main differentiator for ourselves is that we assist in two main areas of the general research process of the advisers. As an organisation, 2Plan greatly assists in research process, making recommendations of clients. With cases of a more complex nature, or indeed a largely investment, we then offer the central technical specialist role. The IFAs refer the case to head office and put solutions together for the client. Our target market is the investment and pension advisers, we believe we can have a great offer for directly regulated advisers, and people feel they would like assistance in the research process in more complex areas.

FA: Looking towards the future, what are the plans for progression and development for 2Plan?

CS: We mapped our technology offering in three different phases - a launch phase, a phase two and three. We have already launched, so now phase two is the contract enquiry systems and building research processes. Next is phase three, which will take those systems to the next level, enhancing technology that we use, recruiting the designed number of 10 recruitment directors and increasing the number of IFAs to 100.

Maike Currie is deputy features editor of Financial Adviser

C.V.

1995-1999:Group sales manager of Allied Dunbar

1999-2006:National sales director of Positive Solutions

2006-present:Chief executive of 2Plan Group