Podcast #144: Emotional Intelligence and adviser success: Practical tips from a former adviser, with James Woodfall

October 15, 2025

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Sue are exploring a skill that every great financial adviser needs, but that doesn’t often get talked about enough: emotional intelligence.

Often labelled a ‘soft skill’, emotional intelligence (EI) is anything but soft when it comes to its impact on adviser success. It can be the difference between being a good adviser and a great one.

Joining us for this cracker of a conversation is James Woodfall, a former financial planner and founder of Raise Your EI. James has been doing some fascinating work on how emotional intelligence influences adviser performance, client relationships, and business outcomes.

Together, they explore:

How emotional intelligence gives advisers a competitive edge in today’s market
Ways to apply EI to support clients through uncertainty and change
Why developing EI is crucial for handling difficult conversations and reading client cues effectively

As Matt puts it: “It’s one of those skills that underpins everything advisers do. Building trust and rapport, establishing long term relationships, EI is at the heart of great advice.”

Whether you’re leading client conversations, mentoring junior colleagues, or steering your business through volatile markets, this episode offers practical insight into the human side of financial advice.

Listen now to hear how you can raise your own EI and strengthen the relationships that drive long-term success.

Be sure to check out this episode and all other episodes of IFA Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon!

James Woodfall

James Woodfall, founder of Raise Your EI, is a highly experienced former financial planner who now advises financial services and firms on how they can leverage emotional intelligence (EI) to improve individual and organisational performance. He is also the author of The Heart of Finance. Co-authored with Cliff Lansley, it’s a practical toolkit enabling finance professionals to develop the emotional intelligence needed to build effective and profitable client relationships.