From football to financial advice – Conrad Balatoni

Conrad Balatoni was not always a financial adviser. In fact, he started his career in a different field altogether: the football pitch. While some may see a career change from sport to finance as a surprising path, in reality the skills Conrad developed in his first role would set him up for his future career.

“I always knew I wouldn’t be able to retire comfortably with a football career, so I always had an idea of what I wanted to do next. I’d always been interested in joining the financial advice profession, but never knew how to go about it.”

After retiring from football, Conrad retrained with the St. James's Place Academy in 2018 and now runs his own business. Speaking to the Academy, he explains that his interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships with clients have proven valuable assets in his new profession. He credits his footballing experience for helping him develop these skills and believes that the qualities that make a great athlete also translate well into the business world.

“Being from a footballing background, I didn’t have any experience in finance or working life. The Academy took me under its wing and explained what I needed to do to set up a business from scratch.”

Conrad's success as a financial adviser is a testament to the importance of taking control of your career. Knowing that his football career would not be a long one, he knew he needed to explore options for a more sustainable role. He took the initiative to retrain with the Academy and pursue a new passion. By doing so, he has created a career that he loves and llows him to take control of his own future.

“It’s been a change working in a big team to single-handedly running a business. Your success is completely down to you and your own decisions. But having the backing from St. James’s Place gives clients the reassurance they need.”

Conrad's story also highlights the importance of transferable skills. While his background in football may seem unrelated to finance at first glance, the interpersonal and leadership skills he developed on the field have proven invaluable in his new profession. This serves as a reminder that skills acquired in one field can often be applied in others, and that it is never too late to explore a new career path.Top of Form

His future, his choice. This is the Place.

Conrad’s story is part of a 6-part series showcasing success stories from those who changed careers with the Academy. Take a look at Rebecca's story here.