Ready for a career change? Ask SJP about financial advice – £200 voucher to be won

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Hello everyone!

We're delighted to welcome Louise McMahon, Siobhan Sammon and Megan Cheyne, Academy Recruitment Managers at St. James's Place (SJP), who'll be here answering your questions about careers in financial advice.

Whether you're considering a career change, thinking about returning to work after having children or wanting to build your skillset in a new industry, this is your opportunity to ask your questions.

56% of wealth transferred by 2048 is projected to be inherited by women, but they remain underrepresented in the financial industry; only 18% of regulated financial advisers are female*. St. James's Place is passionate about encouraging more women into financial advice and is helping to break down some of the misconceptions about starting a finance career.

Many people assume that working in finance means you need years of experience, a degree in economics or to be brilliant at maths, but that's often not the case.

Whether you’re ready for a new challenge or returning to work, the Academy offers a clear path into advice. It’s designed to help you build a career with purpose, flexibility, and the chance to make a real difference.

Through the St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy, women can retrain, return to work or build a completely new career with a fully funded training programme leading to a Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

The Academy is designed to be flexible and provides support throughout the journey, from studying for qualifications through to becoming a practising financial adviser.

The experts are here to answer your questions about:

• What it's really like to be a financial adviser
• The skills needed to succeed
• Flexible working and balancing family life
• The St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy
• Career progression, earning potential and day-to-day life in the role

Perhaps you've wondered...

• Is financial advice a good career for parents?
• What does a typical day look like?
• What kind of person makes a good financial adviser?
• What support would I receive during training?
• What's the earning potential?
• Am I too old to retrain?

Whatever you're curious about, no question is too big or too small.

Aboout the team

Louise McMahon: Louise is an Academy Recruitment Manager at St James's Place, helping people from a variety of backgrounds transition into rewarding careers in financial advice. A mum of two boys, now 18 and 16, she remembers how challenging the early years of motherhood could be when trying to focus on her own career. Louise is passionate about meeting women considering a career change or return to work and exploring what financial advice could offer.

Megan Cheyne: Megan is an Academy Recruitment Manager at St. James's Place, helping people explore careers in financial advice. After 12 years in the automotive industry, she made a big career pivot herself and understands first-hand how daunting a career change can feel. As a busy mum of three, Megan is passionate about helping women build rewarding, flexible careers that fit around family life.

Siobhan Sammon: Siobhan is an Academy Recruitment Manager at St James's Place. A mum of 2, she understands the challenges of balancing motherhood, work, family life & ambitions. She is passionate about helping more women, particularly mums, discover opportunities within financial services. Her mission is to show women that becoming a mum doesn't mean putting your ambitions on hold; you can still build a successful career and
show your family that it's important to pursue your dreams.

The team will be answering questions from 21st Septemeber until 28th September, so post your questions below and they'll answer as many as they can.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

• World Wealth Report June 2025, Capgemini World Wealth Report 2025
  ** Understanding the advice market: financial advice firms survey 2025, Financial Conduct Authority, April 2026

Thank you for your interest in the programme and questions.

Flexibility
The Academy and a career as a financial adviser can offer significant flexibility, but it’s important to be clear that the Academy requires a full-time commitment.
Term 1 is three months and fully virtual. Term 2 is nine weeks (45 working days), including nine days of in-person workshops at our Bristol office. The remaining training and support is delivered virtually or locally.
Once qualified, your flexibility will depend on the Practice you join or whether you start your own business. If you start your own Practice, you’ll have greater control over your diary, while naturally working around your clients.

Employed or self-employed
There are different routes within SJP:
• Start your own Practice: you’ll be self-employed and build your own business.
• Join an existing SJP Practice: opportunities can be employed or self-employed, depending on the Practice.
Before joining the Academy, our team will help you understand the different options and which is most suitable for you.

Finding clients
If you start your own Practice, you’ll initially be responsible for finding clients through your network and marketing activity. We’ll support you with practical ideas and experience gained from helping 500+ new businesses get started.
If you join an existing Practice, some opportunities include existing clients or leads, while others require you to develop your own client base. We’ll make this clear when discussing individual opportunities.

Earning potential
This varies depending on the route you choose.
If you start your own Practice, we’ll help you build a realistic plan based on your income goals, the number of clients you may need and the strength of your potential network.
If you join a Practice, employed roles will have a defined remuneration package. For self-employed roles, our Recruitment Managers will explain how the individual opportunity and earnings structure work.

What’s the downside
It’s important to be realistic: building a new career and, particularly, a new business takes time. The first couple of years can be challenging while you establish yourself and build your client base.
For many advisers, the longer-term attraction is the opportunity to build a rewarding career with greater flexibility and, for business owners, something of value that they own.

Next steps
A good first step is to watch our on-demand Academy webinar, which explains the opportunity in more detail:
Watch the Academy webinar
If it still sounds like something you’d like to explore, book a call with our team and we can talk through your circumstances and the options available.

Is there a reason the questions are only being answered today rather than between 21st and 28th September as originally promised? The lack of any responses in the timeframe originally promised might make people a little uncomfortable about how reliable / trustworthy the business is I think.

Personally, I’m proud to represent SJP, we recognise the importance of the historic servicing review and remain committed to putting things right where appropriate.

Our focus is on delivering good outcomes for clients and continually improving the service we provide to more than one million clients who choose to invest with St. James's Place.

While no single metric can reflect every individual client experience, we are proud of our growing client numbers, strong Funds Under Management retention rate, and consistently high client satisfaction and advocacy rates.

Our priority remains earning and maintaining our client’s trust through high-quality advice, service, and client outcomes.

Thank you for your interest in the programme and for your questions.

Is there much travel involved?
We have more than 2,600 SJP Practices across the UK, and location is considered when matching you with an opportunity. Some travel may be required to meet clients, although many client meetings can also take place virtually. The amount of travel will therefore depend on the Practice you join, your role and your client base.

Do you receive a salary or work on commission?
This depends on the pathway you choose. If you join an existing SJP Practice as an employed adviser, you could receive a base salary with a bonus structure. There are also self-employed opportunities, where the earnings structure works differently. Our team will explain the remuneration and expectations for any opportunity you’re considering.

What next?
A good first step is to watch our on-demand Academy webinar, which explains the programme and different career pathways in more detail.
https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

If you’d then like to explore whether it could be right for you, you can get in touch with our team, and we can talk through your circumstances and the opportunities available. https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/how-to-apply/apply-now?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=apply-now-form

Thank you for raising this, I'm happy to clarify how it works.

Financial advisers earn through the advice they provide to clients. You do not need to recruit other financial advisers to earn an income. Advisers receive initial and ongoing advice fees for the advice and service they provide to their clients.

There are different routes you can take following the Academy. You might join an existing SJP Practice as an adviser, or choose to start and build your own Practice. If you build your own business, you may decide to grow it over time by employing people, including other advisers. This is about building and running a business, rather than creating a recruitment structure. Becoming a financial adviser is a significant career commitment, involving professional training and qualifications.

In terms of salary and earnings, there isn’t one standard figure, as it depends on the route you choose. Existing SJP Practices can offer both employed and self-employed opportunities, with the individual Practice setting the contract and remuneration.

If you choose to start your own Practice, you’ll be self-employed. As part of the process, we’ll help you set your own income goals and understand what it could take to achieve them, looking at factors such as the number of clients you may need and the funds you would need to have under management. This helps you build a realistic plan for developing your business and income over time.

A good next step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, which explains the programme, different career pathways and what you can expect in more detail:

Watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

That’s completely understandable, particularly if you’re considering a career change and already have significant transferable skills and experience.

There isn’t one set starting salary, as it depends on the route you take. If you join an existing SJP Practice as an employed adviser, starting basic salaries are typically around £30,000 to £40,000, often with a bonus structure on top. The exact package is set by the individual Practice and will vary depending on the opportunity.

If you choose the self-employed route, there isn’t a set salary. Your earnings will depend on the clients you build and service. As part of the process, we’ll help you set your own income goals and understand what it could take to achieve them, including the number of clients and level of funds under management you may need.

We recognise that taking a significant drop in income may not be realistic for everyone, which is why understanding the different routes and likely earnings is an important part of deciding whether the Academy is right for you.

You can explore more about the Academy, hear from women who have made the career change and find out about the different routes available here:
Explore careers in financial advice: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/recruiting-women?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=landingpage

Thank you for your question. Having three years away from the workplace isn’t a barrier to joining the Academy, and we support people coming from a wide range of career backgrounds and experiences.

Making a complete career change can feel like a big step, and you won’t be expected to navigate it alone.

There isn’t one single “biggest challenge”. Everyone comes to the Academy with different strengths and areas where they need to build confidence. For some, it’s getting back into studying and working towards professional qualifications; for others, it’s learning a new profession, developing client skills or eventually building a business.

That’s why support is built into every stage of the journey, from your first conversations with us, throughout the Academy and beyond.

You’ll train as part of a cohort of around 20 people making the journey alongside you, as well as having dedicated support and your own mentor. If you’re joining an existing SJP Practice, your mentor will come from the Practice; if you’re starting your own business, you’ll be supported by an experienced SJP business owner. Many cohorts also build lasting friendships and peer networks, alongside local adviser communities.

The Academy provides 18 months of high-touch support. After that, advisers joining a Practice continue to receive support within their business, while those starting their own Practice receive a further two years of high-touch support. Both routes also benefit from ongoing business development support throughout their careers.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about the training, support and what making the career change involves:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

That’s a great question. We see AI as a tool that can enhance the role of a financial adviser rather than replace it.

There are administrative and process-driven parts of financial advice where AI can help advisers work more efficiently. That creates more time for the human side of the role: getting to know clients, understanding what matters to them, helping them navigate important life decisions and building trusted, long-term relationships.

Financial advice is about much more than information or calculations. Clients are often making significant decisions about their families, businesses and futures, and the personal relationship between an adviser and their client remains incredibly important.

SJP is investing in AI and exploring how it can support our advisers and wider business. We see the opportunity as using technology to streamline non-human tasks, giving advisers more time to focus on the human ones.

If you’d like to hear what the career is actually like from people doing it, you can watch stories from some of our financial advisers here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEt5ZmlkqCaRqVvO6KTd4S3rwPoahUwMN&si=dBfJSeJhloJSQuFB

Firstly, don’t underestimate the value of the experience you’ve already built in your caring role. Empathy, listening, communicating clearly and building trust with people are highly transferable skills in many professions, including financial advice.

It’s completely understandable that the financial implications of retraining are a major consideration when you have a home and family to support.
If you’re exploring different career options, the Financial Adviser Academy offers a route into a professional career without needing a university degree or previous financial services experience.

The training is funded and there is financial support available while you work towards your qualifications.

There are different routes too. If you choose to start your own Practice, financial support is available while you train, including £2,000 per month during Terms 1 and 2, with further support available as you progress. Alternatively, you could join an existing SJP Practice, where there are both employed and self-employed opportunities. Employed adviser roles typically start at around £30,000 to £40,000 basic, often with a bonus structure on top, although the individual Practice sets the package.

It is still a significant career change and a full-time commitment, so we’d encourage you to explore all your options and consider what best fits your interests, strengths, family circumstances and financial needs.

If financial advice is something you haven’t considered before, a good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event. It explains the career, training, financial support and different pathways, so you can decide whether it might be an option for you:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

A degree can be helpful, but it isn’t a requirement to become a financial adviser or join the Academy.

People join the Academy from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds. We look at the transferable skills, experience and qualities you bring, such as communication, relationship-building and a willingness to learn, rather than focusing solely on academic qualifications.

And importantly, we don’t use AI to screen applications. Your application will be reviewed by a person, so we can consider your individual skills and experience.

Everyone joining the Academy will still need to achieve the relevant professional qualifications before progressing as an adviser, and the Academy provides a structured route to help you do that.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about the qualifications, application process and what we look for in future advisers:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

Yes, remote and hybrid working can form part of a career in financial advice, although the exact working pattern will depend on the route you take and the needs of your clients.

Many client meetings can take place virtually, giving advisers flexibility in how and where they work. There will also be times when meeting clients face-to-face is important.

If you start your own Practice, you’ll generally have greater autonomy over how you structure your diary and working week. If you join an existing SJP Practice, working arrangements will depend on that individual Practice.

It’s worth noting that the Academy itself requires a full-time commitment. Term 1 is fully virtual, while Term 2 includes nine days of in-person workshops at our Bristol office.

If you’d like to understand more about how the programme and career work in practice, a good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

Both options are available. The route you take will depend on whether you join an existing SJP Practice or choose to start your own business.

If you join an existing SJP Practice, there are both employed (PAYE) and self-employed adviser opportunities, with the individual Practice setting the contract and remuneration. For employed roles, starting basic salaries are typically around £30,000 to £40,000, often with a bonus structure on top.

If you choose to start your own Practice, you’ll be self-employed and have greater autonomy over how you build your business, manage your diary and develop your client base. Financial support is available while you train and establish yourself.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all route, and we’ll help you understand the different options and which could best suit your circumstances and ambitions.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, which explains the different pathways in more detail:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

I wouldn’t describe financial advice as a career that depends on luck. There’s a structured route to becoming qualified, ongoing professional development and support throughout your career.

Like any career change, becoming established takes commitment, particularly in the early stages. Everyone has different strengths and challenges, and building your own Practice can take more time than joining an established Practice with existing infrastructure and support.

Over time, advisers can build long-term relationships with clients and an established client base. As those relationships develop, clients may also recommend their adviser to friends, family or colleagues, helping the adviser grow their client base through referrals as well as their own business development activity.

For those who choose to build their own Practice, there’s also the opportunity to build a business with long-term capital value.

There are no guarantees of individual success or earnings, but it’s much more about consistently building your knowledge, client relationships and business than simply being lucky.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about the career, the different pathways and the support available:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

Thanks for raising these points. We’d always encourage anyone considering a career in financial advice to do their research and understand the organisation, the profession and the different career routes available.

We recognise the importance of the historic servicing review and remain committed to putting things right where appropriate. Our focus is on delivering good outcomes for clients and continually improving the service we provide to more than one million clients who choose to invest with St. James’s Place.

While no single metric can reflect every individual client experience, we are proud of our growing client numbers, strong Funds Under Management retention rate, and consistently high client satisfaction and advocacy rates. Our priority remains earning and maintaining our clients’ trust through high-quality advice, service and client outcomes.

There are also a couple of points about the Academy and adviser role that are worth clarifying.

The Academy doesn’t only lead to self-employment. You can choose to start your own SJP Practice, which is a self-employed business-owner route, or join an existing SJP Practice, where both employed and self-employed adviser opportunities are available.

Client acquisition is an important part of the role, particularly if you choose to build your own business, but financial advice is about much more than selling products. Advisers build long-term relationships with clients, understand their circumstances and goals, provide advice and continue to support those clients over time.

It’s also correct that SJP advisers provide restricted rather than independent financial advice. SJP operates a restricted advice model, meaning advisers provide advice from a defined range of products and solutions that SJP has researched and assessed rather than independently researching the whole market for each client.

We think it’s important that anyone considering the Academy understands all of this upfront. It’s a significant career change involving professional qualifications, developing client relationships and, depending on the route you choose, building a client base or your own business.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, which explains the programme and different career pathways in more detail, so you can decide whether it’s right for you:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

No, you don’t need a degree or previous financial services experience to join the Academy.

People join us from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds. In 2025, 45% of people joining the Academy came from outside financial services, with participants joining from more than 25 different professions.

We look at the transferable skills and experience you already have, such as communication, relationship-building, empathy, problem-solving and a willingness to learn. The Academy then provides the structured training, technical knowledge and professional qualifications you need to become a financial adviser.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about what we look for, the training and the different routes into the profession:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

It depends on the route you choose, as there are both employed and self-employed opportunities.

If you join an existing SJP Practice as an employed adviser, starting basic salaries are typically around £30,000 to £40,000, often with a bonus structure on top. The exact package and progression will depend on the individual Practice and opportunity.

If you choose to start your own Practice, you’ll be self-employed, so there isn’t a traditional starting salary. Financial support is available while you train and establish your business, and we’ll help you set your own income goals and understand the number of clients and level of funds under management you may need to work towards them.

For established advisers, average earnings are around £100,000, but it’s important to be clear that this takes time to build and isn’t a guaranteed level of income. Earnings will vary depending on factors such as your route, experience, client base and business growth.

For those building their own Practice, there’s also the opportunity over time to build a business with capital value, so the longer-term opportunity isn’t solely about annual earnings.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can learn more about the different routes, financial support and what building a career in financial advice involves:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

If you choose to complete your qualifications through the Academy, you can achieve your Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning within the early stages of the programme.

There are six exams in total. You’ll sit two before starting the Academy, three during Term 1 and the final exam during Term 2.

From there, the focus moves increasingly towards putting that knowledge into practice, developing your client-facing skills and building your confidence as an adviser. After Term 2, you can begin working with clients under supervision, before progressing towards Competent Adviser Status, which is typically achieved around 12 months into your journey.

So, while gaining the Level 4 Diploma can happen relatively quickly, becoming an adviser is about combining the qualification with practical experience and demonstrated competence.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where we explain the qualifications, training and journey to becoming an adviser in more detail:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

Yes, there are both salaried and self-employed routes available, depending on the opportunity you choose.

If you join an existing SJP Practice, there are employed (PAYE) and self-employed adviser opportunities. For employed roles, starting basic salaries are typically around £30,000 to £40,000, often with a bonus structure on top. The individual Practice determines the exact salary, benefits, working arrangements and other terms and conditions.

If you choose to start your own SJP Practice, you’ll be self-employed and responsible for building your own business and client base, with greater autonomy over your diary and how you develop your business. Financial support starts from Term 1, including £2,000 per month during Terms 1 and 2, with further support available as you progress through the Academy.

Before you join, our team will help you understand the different pathways and the opportunity available to you, including how you’ll be paid, your working arrangements and what will be expected of you, so you can make an informed decision about which route is right for you.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, which explains the programme and the different employed, self-employed and business-owner routes in more detail:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

Financial advice is a highly regulated profession, so ongoing learning and keeping your knowledge up to date are an important part of the role.

The Academy gives you the initial technical knowledge, professional qualifications and practical skills you need, but your development doesn’t stop when you qualify. Advisers undertake ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and have access to SJP specialist resources covering areas such as technical advice, regulation and business assurance, helping them stay informed and deliver appropriate advice to clients.

When recommending a solution, an adviser will consider much more than current market conditions. This includes the client’s personal circumstances, objectives, affordability, attitude to risk and capacity for loss, before recommending an appropriate solution from SJP’s researched and assessed range.

Financial advice is also an ongoing relationship, rather than a one-off transaction. Clients receive at least an annual review, and if something significant changes in their life, such as redundancy, illness or a change in income, they should speak to their adviser so their circumstances and financial plan can be reviewed. Where appropriate, financial protection may also form part of planning for unexpected life events.

In terms of liability, SJP’s Advice Guarantee is designed to protect both clients and advisers. If there are concerns about the suitability of the advice or product recommended, SJP can review and manage that process. It’s important to distinguish this from normal investment market movements, which the Advice Guarantee does not protect against.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about the training, ongoing development and responsibilities involved in becoming a financial adviser:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

How long does the Level 4 Diploma take?
If you complete your qualifications through the Academy, there are six exams. You’ll sit two before starting the programme, three during Term 1 and the final exam during Term 2, so you can achieve your Level 4 Diploma relatively early in your Academy journey.

From there, the focus moves towards practical skills and experience. After Term 2, you can begin working with clients under supervision, before progressing towards Competent Adviser Status, typically around 12 months into your journey.

Is it self-employed?
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. You can start your own SJP Practice, which is a self-employed business-owner route, or join an existing SJP Practice, where there are both employed and self-employed opportunities.
There are a few parts to this, so I’ll take them separately.
Is it basically sales?
Building a client base is an important part of being a financial adviser, particularly if you choose to start your own business, so you do need to be comfortable developing new client relationships.

However, the role is about much more than selling. Advisers build long-term relationships with clients, understand their circumstances and goals, provide suitable financial advice and continue to support them as their needs change. Clients receive at least an annual review, so it’s an ongoing advice and service relationship rather than a one-off transaction.

A good first step is to watch our on-demand Discover the Academy event, where you can find out more about the qualifications, different career pathways and what the adviser role involves:

Watch the Discover the Academy event: https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

We promise it’s not the second one! We kept the Q&A open until 28 September to give everyone the opportunity to submit their questions, including the tricky ones. We’re working through them all today and really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to ask a question.

You’ve got it, thank you! We kept the Q&A open until 28 September so everyone had the chance to submit their questions, and we’re now working through them all today. Thanks for bearing with us!

Hey MayCottage, the answers are being posted today and tomorrow, thanks for your patience and glad this thread was a useful one!

We completely understand this. For many people considering a career change, the transition and managing your finances while you retrain can be one of the biggest things to think through.

The Academy is a full-time commitment, so it’s important to plan for that change. For those taking the self-employed route, we provide £2,000 per month of financial support during Terms 1 and 2. In Term 3, you become client-facing and can start generating revenue from the advice you provide, with additional financial support to help with cash flow as you begin building your client base.
There are also employed opportunities, where starting salaries are typically around £30,000 to £40,000. We take time to understand your personal circumstances and help match you with the right opportunity and route.

And yes, there is a good place to start. Our Discover event takes you through the Academy, the career and what the journey looks like, so I’d recommend watching that before making any big decisions.

A career change like this is a significant commitment, and we want you to go into it with your eyes open, understanding the options available and what could work best for your circumstances.
https://www.sjp.co.uk/academy/events/discover-st-jamess-place-financial-adviser-academy-event-virtual?utm_source=Mumsnet&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Female-campaign&utm_content=OpenEvening

You don’t need previous financial services experience or qualifications to start your journey with the Academy. The programme provides a structured route to gain the relevant professional qualifications, while developing the technical knowledge and practical skills you’ll need to become a financial adviser.

And yes, there are lots of transferable skills from other careers. Teaching is a great example. Teachers are used to building relationships, listening and understanding individual needs, communicating clearly and making complex information easier to understand. All of these skills can be incredibly valuable in financial advice.

The technical knowledge can be taught. What’s equally important is your ability to work with people, your willingness to learn and your motivation to build a new career.

If you’re coming from a teaching background, you can hear from people who have made the move from education into financial advice here:

[WATCH OUR TEACHER CAREER-CHANGE STORIES] and