Cowens Careers: Building Futures- Paul and Toby Chaplin

At Cowens, culture and values connect generations within families and across our teams. That’s clear in the story of Paul, our CEO, and his son Toby, who has recently joined Cowens Financial Planning. Paul’s career spans decades of leadership, while Toby is just beginning his journey. In this blog, we share their perspectives: a father proud to see the next generation step forward, and a son eager to make his own mark.
 

Joining Cowens at different stages of life

Paul: What’s it like to see your son join the business you’ve helped lead and shape?
Well, I think I have quite mixed feelings really. I am proud of the business and of him and clearly seeing them come together is a positive thing. In my mind it’s important that others within the organisation hired him and he reports to them and not me. I would not want any suspicion of nepotism, and I know that he feels like that too. It is important for Toby that he makes his own way.  
 
Toby: How did you decide to join Cowens, and what path did you take after finishing school/college before starting here?
I am very lucky, if I’m being completely honest, I saw an opportunity and I took it. Which I am so glad I did. I went to sixth form, then on a gap year with the intention of going to Uni to study business management after that. I had no idea what I wanted to do and no idea of how to get there. This all obviously changed and I found myself here, working full time in a company that has been extremely welcoming. An environment which I was initially anxious about.
 

Early career experiences

Paul: Looking back, what do you remember about your own first steps in the insurance industry?
I had quite a convoluted path actually. I started off as a trainee accountant in the City of London. I happened to be working for an Insurance Company, but my mind was set on a career on accountancy. I failed a set of exams and thought that I should have a career move- older and wiser heads may have encouraged me to have another go but instead, I started the Insurance exams for no other reason than I was working for a company in that sector. Later, the business relocated to Nottingham and then to Bournemouth. I stayed in Nottingham, became an Insurance Broker, and forty years later, that is what I am still doing, and I have to say, I’m loving it.
 
Toby: What have your first few weeks at Cowens Financial Planning been like, and what’s stood out most so far?
I have now been here just over 3 months, and it has been a journey. I had no idea about financial planning and no idea what I would come across in my day-to-day tasks. I have been predominantly trained by Helen Ryan and Oliver Litchfield who have been there for me throughout. I have been and still doing product training sessions with Kathryn Ellis, who has honestly been amazing, and I didn’t think for a second that I would learn as much as I have done. However, there is plenty more to go. I have undergone a big task recently which won’t only have a big impact in the short term but should result in a big change for the company going forward. I have been in talks with the Operations Director and have developed a process going forward. There is no way, when I first came here, I would be able to tackle these with such ease and accuracy. This is all down to the wonderful people who have supported me.
 

Culture and values

Paul: From your perspective as CEO, what values do you think make Cowens special?
I think my culture and the Company’s is now one and the same. I think more than any other difference I may have made here, I have been to a large extent, responsible for the culture of the businesses. Honesty, integrity, and trust being at our core and putting the client at the centre of everything we do. I love being in a service industry and I love being of service to our clients and genuinely making a difference to them.
 
Toby: As someone just starting out, how have you experienced those values day-to-day in your team?
At Cowens Financial Planning one of our values is putting our clients’ needs first, which is something we strive towards with everything we do. Even down to looking at the solutions, not problems for our clients, this is also applicable in the every-day difficulties we face at work. This is another value, as it turns out. We also aim to be honest with people, whether that be for our clients or with each other. Working with different people can be difficult sometimes, at the end of the day, we are all different. But Cowens really embraces an environment of honesty and openness in which any problems we might face in a social environment are tackled in a concise and practical way, while equally understanding people’s needs. Cowens Financial Planning really is a special place to be.

Family influence

Paul: How do you balance being both a father and CEO when Toby’s career is just beginning?
I suppose I concentrate on being Dad, other people are his bosses and whilst ultimately, I am group CEO, I don’t have anything to do with Toby’s career, development, or Management within the organisation. So, any advice I do give him, I am clearly wearing the dad hat.
 
Toby: Has your dad’s career influenced the way you think about your own professional path?
My Dad is certainly an inspiration to me and always has been, but in the aspect of his career this is even more relevant. He is absolutely devoted to work, if you ask anyone in Cowens they would agree. He really has put his heart and soul into his job and by doing so has elevated Cowens into what it is today. I couldn’t be prouder of him. I have seen first-hand how hard he works and how ambitious he is in everything. I feel I have enormous shoes to fill. This is obviously a daunting task, as sometimes it seems as if I’m never going to be able to fill them.  

The future

Paul: What excites you most about the next generation, both for Cowens and for Toby’s career?
I am enormously excited about the prospects for the future, for all aspects of Cowens. We employ many young people who are enthusiastic and committed. We have recently achieved Platinum Investor in People status to emphasise our commitment to employee development. My focus is on ensuring that Cowens has a healthy and vibrant future to keep being successful and ensure that Toby and his other young colleagues see their future wrapped up with ours, and we all strive to be the best we can be.
 
Toby: Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for your career in financial planning?
If you had asked me this question when I first arrived, I would have said I want to be an adviser. However, now I look at this in a very different light. I want to be able to hone my skills and be confident with every part of the company, whether that be admin, or paraplanning or even as an adviser. I want to be able to know the answer or at least know where to find the answer. I would like to aim towards a higher position; however, what this is, I don’t know. All I know is that by improving myself in all aspects, I will find myself in a position where I am an asset to the team.
 
 
Paul and Toby’s stories reflect two very different stages of a career but share the same foundation- a passion for service, integrity, and putting clients first. For Paul, it’s about guiding Cowens into a strong future; for Toby, it’s about embracing opportunity, learning from those around him, and building the skills to one day inspire others. Together, their journeys capture what Cowens is all about: honouring the past, investing in the present, and shaping the future.