Two Minutes With… Nick Paler, MRM head of news and content
MRM's head of news and content Nick Paler talks financial services, some much-needed financial advice, and the difficulty of doing Zoom calls with fund managers while children ask you for snacks.
1. Tell us about yourself
I'm an ex-financial journalist who spent a decade writing for some of the top trade titles in the sector, including Investment Week and numerous titles at Citywire.
My beats as a journalist were varied, from platforms to investments to adviser networks, as well as having a stint as a markets reporter and writing consumer finance stories.
I've been lucky enough to work in financial services during some spectacular and unique events, including the credit crisis (I started writing about markets a few weeks before RBS' shares fell 70% in a day) as well as working with some fantastic journalists who have gone on to make their marks all across the sector.
Like many of my former colleagues, I succumbed to the thrall of PR some six years ago and haven't looked back since.
2. Where did your interest in FS come from?
In truth, I didn't have one before I took a job as a reporter on Professional Adviser back in 2006. However, since then, my love of finance – and in particular investing – has grown and grown. It can be such a powerful force to change one's financial position, and as I quickly found after starting in the industry, it's anything but dull.
3. Why did you join MRM?
I had known MRM – and in particular Andrew Appleyard and Chris Duncan – for many years and had always been impressed with the business, its culture, and the way it operated. We had a conversation, the timing was right for everyone, and that was that. Six years later I still love it.
4. What area of PR gives you the most satisfaction? Is it fast-paced sell ins, or a killer stat press release write-up?
Good stories. As a journalist you are always trying to write things that people want to read, and as head of news and content at MRM, the same thing applies. We want to create content for clients that journalists or their clients can not only use, but that they actual enjoy reading. It can be anything from a quick comment to a longer thought-piece, from a video interview to a podcast. The medium doesn't matter, but whether I want to read it or not does.
5. If you could give one piece of financial advice to a teenage version of yourself, what would it be?
Get into investing earlier because it can make a real difference to your wealth in the long run. And don't get sucked in to using credit cards.
6. What would you do if you were Prime Minister for a day?
Raise taxes on those that can afford it and spend the money on the NHS.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve, or makes you angry?
Missing a good angle for a story. And Spurs. Spurs often make me angry.
8. Now, tell us a little about your life outside of work, do you have any hobbies?
I spend a lot of time chasing around after my kids, who are seven and four. Outside of that, I'm one of those annoying people who tries to do lots of exercise and then tells everyone about it. I also like playing poker with mates (over Zoom these days) and eating very unhealthy food.
9. What is the one column or website that you read every day?
Lots to be honest, but some of my go to publications daily include the FT, the Telegraph and the trades.
10. What would you do if you received a windfall of £10,000?
Invest in penny shares and try and find a 10 bagger.
11. How has lockdown changed how you work?
Like everyone, we've had to adapt to how we do things, but luckily with content in particular, it has become more important rather than less. Plus you really can write from anywhere, and about anything, so it's therefore been pretty seamless (although my children have a habit of bursting in on me with demands for food when I'm in the middle of a fund manager interview).