Simon Goldthorpe: How being a SWOT can help you grow your business

clock • 4 min read

Boris Johnson may have tried to insult David Cameron by calling him a 'swot', writes Simon Goldthorpe, but, for IFA business owners, it may not be such a bad thing...

If you've been through the British education system and have been called a swot, the chances are it wasn't meant in a nice way. Dating back to the 1860s, the word swot has been used as a derogatory term to describe people who would rather bury their heads in a maths textbook than attend the school disco. Recently, Supreme Court Judge Lady Hale was criticised for calling herself a ‘girly swot', an apparent dig at Boris Johnson for referring to former Prime Minister David Cameron in such a way.  But for forward-thinking financial advisers wanting to grow their business, being a SWOT ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Common language used by advisers triggers anxiety and distrust among retirees

Common language used by advisers triggers anxiety and distrust among retirees

Product-led communication one of the biggest drivers of mistrust

Laura Purkess
clock 01 April 2026 • 1 min read
Advisers: Are you even taking your own advice?

Advisers: Are you even taking your own advice?

Exploring the expenditure consolidation conversation

Nick Ryan
clock 25 March 2026 • 4 min read
CISI welcomes 76 Certified financial planners

CISI welcomes 76 Certified financial planners

Number of UK CFP professionals continues to rise

Sophia Panayi
clock 24 March 2026 • 1 min read