Have you ever… thought about becoming a financial adviser?

Here are 10 experiences that could mean you’re closer to becoming an adviser than you think, especially if you’re already working in the profession:

Have you ever…  

1… Coached someone through a decision - not just told them what to do? 

Advice isn’t about dictating, it’s about empowering. If you've helped someone explore their options and come to a confident decision, that's core to what advisers do every day. For example, as a trader, you may have experience coaching clients through turbulent times in the market. These skills will help you advise clients as an adviser.

2… Worked with compliance or regulatory requirements? 

If you’ve had to navigate FCA rules, complete suitability reports, or ensure your work meets regulatory standards, you’re already familiar with the compliance backbone of financial advice. Perhaps you’re a paraplanner, or perhaps you work in compliance - both of these roles enable you to gain experience with the FCA requirements financial advisers also work with. This means your one step ahead as you're already used to adhering to these regulations .

3…Completed a fact-find or report for a client? 

Advisers often present portfolio reviews, financial plans, or policy summaries. If you’ve created or contributed to reports that explain performance, risk, or options, you’re already building the foundation for adviser-client conversations. Fact finding is the cornerstone of advice, laying the groundwork for tailored, meaningful solutions.

4…Worked with vulnerable clients? 

Financial advisers must support clients through bereavement, divorce, illness, and other sensitive life events, which calls for care, compassion, and professionalism. If you already have experience working closely with clients in vulnerable situations, you’ll already have the underlying skills needed to make a great financial adviser.  

5…Collaborated with other professionals (e.g. accountants, solicitors)? 

Financial advisers often work as part of a wider professional network. If you're used to sharing knowledge or coordinating with external experts to serve a client or working on referrals together, you're already ahead.  

6…Stayed up to date with market trends or product changes? 

Being an adviser requires curiosity and a commitment to ongoing learning. If you’re already reading updates, attending CPD events, or keeping ahead of changes in products or regulation, you’re practising key adviser behaviours.

7…Translated complex financial concepts into plain English? 

Financial services can be full of jargon. But if you’ve helped a colleague, client, or friend understand tax rules, investment strategies, or protection products, you’ve demonstrated one of the most essential advisory skills: clarity. Advisers are interpreters, turning complexity into confidence for clients.

8…Helped someone make a tough decision? 

Financial advice is about people. If you’ve ever supported someone through a big decision (maybe about their mortgage, pension options, or investment timing), you already understand the emotional intelligence the role requires.

9…Reassured clients during difficult markets? 

Volatility happens but advisers are planners. If you’ve helped someone think beyond today's choices to consider tomorrow’s outcomes - whether in lending, savings, or investments - you’re already thinking like an adviser.  

10 …Taken a financial qualification? 

Whether it’s CeMAP for mortgage professionals, a CISI qualification or IMC for those in investment roles, or something similar, many finance professionals already hold qualifications that demonstrate commitment, knowledge, and professionalism.  

These qualifications don’t just prove your technical understanding – they also demonstrate your ability to study, apply knowledge, and meet regulatory standards. In some cases, they may even contribute towards the qualifications needed to become a financial adviser, helping you fast-track your transition into the role. If you've already succeeded in gaining one, you're better prepared than you might think. 

So, what’s stopping you?

If you’ve ticked even a few of the boxes above, you’re not starting from zero: you’re already halfway there. Becoming a financial adviser isn’t about reinventing yourself; it’s about recognising the skills you already bring to the table and building on them with purpose.

The financial advice profession needs people who understand the industry, who can listen as well as lead, and who care about helping others make confident, informed choices. Sound like you? Then it might be time to stop wondering if you could become an adviser and start exploring how.