Financial career advice

[Orchid1]

Looking for a bit of advice from people working in the Financial industry ie IFA's etc.

Short story is i'm unhappy in my current job and looking to head into an IFA type role. I know a good place to start would be undertaking professional exams but I was looking to hear advice from other people who have done similar so I can at least form some kind of plan before I spend time and money on qualifications and blindly hope for the best.

I have a degree in Law which touched on financial Law however I don't have a legal type of job at the minute and whenever I look for trainee type roles in this field they still want you to at least have some kind of experience working for one.

The closest i've gotten so far is an interview with an investment company who offered me a job on the spot however it was an admin job and the guy made it clear that there would be no promotion, training or pay rises whilst I worked for them so I had to politely decline.

What do folks reckon? I'm 30 so i'm hoping i'm not too late for this, or am I being very naive?

[Applehorn87]

I have recently done similar and sat 4 CII exams whilst working at an insurance brokers to enable me to change careers and now sat the IMC and chartered wealth management exams so I can move into investment management. I was 26ish when I started studying for the CII exams and have recently turned 30.

Have you tried to apply for trainee paraplanner roles at IFA firms? This will then give you practical experience whilst you qualify and help with the exams.

I would try and establish what area you want to go down as if it is investment management rather than IFA then you might be better with CISI rather than CII exams etc.If you can i'd say go for it.

[Orchid1]

Applehorn87 said:

I have recently done similar and sat 4 CII exams whilst working at an insurance brokers to enable me to change careers and now sat the IMC and chartered wealth management exams so I can move into investment management. I was 26ish when I started studying for the CII exams and have recently turned 30.

Have you tried to apply for trainee paraplanner roles at IFA firms? This will then give you practical experience whilst you qualify and help with the exams.

I would try and establish what area you want to go down as if it is investment management rather than IFA then you might be better with CISI rather than CII exams etc.If you can i'd say go for it.

Thanks for your reply. A paraplanner is definiately something i've looked at as well however like IFA's even trainee jobs require at least a years experience working with an IFA. I guess I need to get my finger out and start with the exams and hopefully use it to open some doors.

[anonymous-user]

Firms like mine are looking for people like you to fastrack into becoming qualified IFAs.

If you're based in W Yorks you're welcome to contact me through my profile.

[Orchid1]

janesmith1950 said:

Firms like mine are looking for people like you to fastrack into becoming qualified IFAs.

If you're based in W Yorks you're welcome to contact me through my profile.

Thanks for your reply, i'm in Scotland unfortunately. There are a lot of these types of positions advertised but even the trainee ones require a few years experience so it's a bit frustrating :s.