I'll be honest, I'm one of those people who feels completely in the dark about my pension. Despite years of working in fintech, the whole system feels unnecessarily complex and opaque. So when we first started working with Royden Greaves on Jarvis' initial go-to-market strategy, his mission immediately resonated with me.

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In this Resilient Growth Playbook conversation, Royden shared insights on building a pension solution that's as easy to use as modern banking and why that matters more than ever. In a world where economic uncertainty has shifted our focus from "growth at all costs" to sustainable, resilient business building, few stories illustrate this transformation better than his journey with Jarvis.

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The Problem That Sparked a Mission (And Why It Hit Home)

After 15 years in wealth management, Royden discovered a startling paradox that many of us can relate to: pensions represent the second-largest store of private wealth in the UK (after property), yet people have the least understanding of these accounts that often hold their largest balances.

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The numbers are staggering:

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• £36 billion in lost pension money across the UK
• An average of £10,000 per person sitting unclaimed
• Over 20 million people automatically contributing hundreds of pounds monthly to accounts they don't understand

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"People want to be self-sufficient," Royden explained during our conversation. "But the individuals who need the most financial support have the least amount of financial education and guidance."

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Having worked with Royden on Jarvis' early go-to-market strategy, I've seen firsthand how this problem affects real people—not just statistics. It's a mission that feels both urgent and deeply personal.

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From Wealth Management to Workplace Revolution

The transition from comfortable wealth management to entrepreneurship wasn't just about identifying a problem. It was about democratising solutions previously available only to the wealthy.

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Royden's approach centers on a simple principle: complex financial goals can be distilled into simple numbers. Instead of overwhelming someone with the need to save £200,000 for retirement, break it down to approx. £250 per month for 30 years. Suddenly, the impossible becomes actionable.

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"We wanted to take the lessons from solutions designed for the rich and enable individuals aspiring towards wealth to become more financially independent," he shared.

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The Evolution of Jarvis: Learning Through Iteration

Like any successful startup, Jarvis evolved significantly from its initial concept. Royden prefers the word "evolve" over "pivot", drawing parallels to nature's transformation from seed to tree to fruit-bearing organism.

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The key evolution came in understanding their route to market. While they initially focused on direct consumer engagement, they discovered that the most effective path was through the "center of money" - payroll and accounting software where salary decisions are made.

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This led to their current B2B model, partnering with payroll software providers to reach their target market: the contingent workforce, including the near-self-employed and under-employed individuals who statistically receive the least financial support.

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Working with Royden during this evolution was fascinating to watch—his ability to stay true to the core mission while adapting the strategy showed real entrepreneurial resilience.

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Building Trust Through Standards

Royden's approach to partnership development offers a masterclass in industry credibility. Rather than trying to convince potential partners from scratch, Jarvis first identified the trusted standards within their industry - organisations like FCSA and Professional Passport.

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By ensuring their systems met these standards and gaining accreditation, they could approach partners from a position of trust and integrity. As Royden puts it, "We're now the most accredited pension provider in the contingent workforce sector."

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The User Experience: Common Sense Over Complexity

For employers, Jarvis strips away the university-level complexity of traditional pension management.

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The platform focuses on five core actions:

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1. Enrollment (telling the pension company a person exists)
2. Contribution (specifying payment amounts)
3. Payment (sending the money)
4. Member requests (handling opt-outs)
5. Search (finding historical information)

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For end users, the experience mirrors modern banking apps. Want to know how to positively impact your future? The platform provides clear projections and actionable guidance—no advanced mathematics required.

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The Failure-Fast Philosophy

Perhaps the most valuable lesson from Royden's journey is his approach to failure: "The faster you can learn lessons, the more lessons you have in your Rolodex to refer to in the future."

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This philosophy of rapid iteration and learning from setbacks has been crucial to Jarvis' development. Like Thomas Edison cycling through a thousand "no's" to reach his breakthrough, Royden emphasizes the importance of treating failures as information rather than setbacks.

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Freedom as the North Star

When asked about future ventures, Royden's answer reveals the deeper purpose driving his work:

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"Everything I do is built on the foundations of one word: Freedom."

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Whether it's financial freedom, travel freedom, or freedom from debt constraints, his mission centers on helping people break through limitations that prevent them from pursuing life's bigger questions and opportunities.

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Key Takeaways for Resilient Growth

Royden's journey with Jarvis offers several lessons for building resilient, sustainable businesses:

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Start with the underserved: Instead of building for the wealthy, focus on those who need the most help but have the smallest voice.

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Simplify the complex: Take sophisticated solutions and make them accessible to everyone, not just the financially educated.

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Build trust through standards: Establish credibility by meeting industry standards before trying to convince partners.

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Iterate rapidly: Embrace failure as information and cycle through learning opportunities quickly.

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Focus on freedom: Whether for your users or yourself, freedom should be the ultimate goal driving your mission.

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Connect with Royden

True to his commitment to helping others, Royden responds to every LinkedIn message and actively makes introductions within his network. You can reach him at LinkedIn under Royden Greaves - though he admits it might take slightly longer to respond as Jarvis continues to grow.

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The Resilient Growth Playbook series continues to explore how founders are building sustainable businesses in uncertain times. Each conversation reveals practical strategies for creating lasting impact while maintaining financial sustainability.

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Having worked with Royden on Jarvis' initial go-to-market strategy, I can personally attest to his commitment to making financial freedom accessible to everyone. His mission to simplify pensions resonates deeply with anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by their own financial future.

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Want to learn more about building resilient growth strategies? Follow our series for insights from founders who are proving that sustainable growth isn't just possible—it's essential.‍