IFW member Petra Spirkova is a financial planner and financial coach at First Wealth London and a Chartered Fellow of CISI, CeFC. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, she priorities helping women take control of their future by making sense of their finances. She is a Resolution associate, supporting families going through separation.
Discover what drives Petra to always be learning and seeking ways to help her clients thrive.
How would you summarise your passions, both in and out of work?
I have a huge passion for helping people and for learning. I love connecting with people, getting to know new clients and helping them discover all that’s possible in their lives.
I’m energised by being around people who share ideas and share a laugh.
I love entertaining at home, spending time with friends and family.
What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I love outdoors and a walk in the woods or by a water is a balm for my soul.
Nature grounds me and gives me space to be quiet, to reflect and seek a new perspective. Most importantly, it calms my mind.
I love cooking. Skiing holidays are my favourite, but a beach and a paddleboard is a remarkably close second.
What’s your happiest memory?
When I was on holiday in St. Lucia with my husband and our children, we hired a boat and spent the day on the sea. There – holding my children, all of us laughing, the wind my hair, the salt on my skin, the sun on the horizon, absolute freedom – in that moment I was truly happy. I had all I ever need.
What do you wish you’d been told about finance when you were a teenager?
I left Slovakia and moved to London when I was 19. I worked to pay my bills with a little to spend on anything else.
I was always good with budgeting and living within my means, but a concept of building wealth was really foreign to me.
I wish someone explained to me the enormous benefits of planning and saving for future.
What made you want to work as a financial planner and coach?
I worked my way up from client support, client relationship management, paraplanner, analyst… I did it all!
I was always good with numbers and technical stuff but the more I got involved with clients, the more I realised it’s not about how much money people have, it’s not about adding the numbers, it’s not about their taxes. It’s deeper, it’s emotional, it’s personal.
I really wanted to understand what drives people’s money decisions. And then help them!
I love to ask this question: On your last day, looking back- what would you REGRET not doing / being / experiencing in your lifetime?
It was a game changer for me. You only have one life – live it! Prioritise what matters most and set to achieve your goals. If you can dream it, you’re more than halfway there.
I read many books on psychology, working with energy, negotiations, took courses and worked on my coaching skills, all to serve my clients better and light up the way so they can achieve all they desire.
What drives you to work with female clients primarily?
It happened quite organically. Before I joined First Wealth, I had a long hard look at what my purpose is, what I do well, what kind of client I love working with, who benefits from working with me the most and where I thrive.
My female clients give me wonderful feedback about how working with me changed their lives and how I empower them to look forward to their future. This was the catalyst to embrace coaching more and focus on their overall wellbeing.
As women, we navigate a unique set of challenges in our lives, including maternity leave, motherhood, caring duties, potential earnings gap, pension funding gap, and the perimenopausal rollercoaster.
With as much as 60% of UK wealth set to be owned by women by 2025, we need to help each other!
Women often feel a great sense of guilt and shame and an enormous pressure when it comes to wanting to have it all, how to have it all, or actually wanting something else entirely. I aim to empower women when it comes to decision-making about their lives.
I also offer a more tailored service and share my expertise with women going through or emerging after divorce, women in bereavement, women setting up their new career, creating new future. I guide them on how to balance their wellbeing as well as their accounts. I integrate coaching to support them the best way I can, to help them embrace what wealth actually means to them.
I work with many lovely couples too, and I love it, I will always make sure the woman has space and time to think and be heard clearly.
What prompted you to join the Institute for Financial Wellbeing?
I understood that to be a good financial planner you need to plan for a life well-lived, not money well invested to die with.
Chris Budd’s books led me right here. The Institute offers many opportunities to meet likeminded professionals, connect, improve, and get inspired by others.
These days collaboration is the key to success.
What’s your top tip for someone wanting to improve their financial wellbeing?
Take a moment to understand what’s important to you, not your boss, not your parents, and not your culture.
Pay your future self first (a hard concept for the present you), but also create a guilt-free treat pot to spend on whatever you choose.
Who or what is your favourite wellbeing guru, podcast, or book?
Right now, I love listening to Marisa Peers (https://marisapeer.com). Her voice, her techniques, her podcasts, and her books are easy to follow and great for anyone who wishes to improve their mindset, and wellbeing.
It all starts within you – confidence is built from within. When you have confidence, you can achieve anything.
I’m also working with Intuitive Coach Caroline Britton at the moment. Fascinating stuff!
If you haven’t already, check out the fabulous Catherine Morgan.
Slo Mo with Mo Gawdat is pretty great podcast to listen to.
His book Solve for Happy is a must-read.
What are you doing to advance your own financial wellbeing?
I’m continuously improving and learning.
I think about my spending and spend with impact. I’m consciously choosing to spend my money on things that create longer term happiness – experiences, memories and skills-learning as opposed to short term or immediate gratification such as a one click online buy of a new pretty dress or a quick takeaway for dinner.
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