We’re tackling the third perspective—"looking for learning"—is about skill development and finding growth opportunities. We've designed a simple three-step framework—Experiment, Engage, and Evaluate—to help you test new ideas, connect with inspiring people, and assess each experience with a fresh perspective.
As a reminder the four perspectives are:
- Looking outside: External resources and support
- Looking at yourself: Self-reflection and personal assessment
- Looking for learning: Skill development and growth opportunities
- Looking ahead: Future planning and goal setting
Let's guide you through each step, following the footsteps of Kanishk Swarup, who transitioned from equity trading and investment banking to become a financial adviser via The St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy. Watch the full story below.
What did he do and how did he do it?
1. Experiment: Test new waters
Why?
Testing new waters is about stepping outside what's familiar to discover new skills, strengths, and passions. Although this may take you outside your comfort zone and seem daunting, embracing the unknown can often bring valuable new perspectives that reveal a lot about yourself and your capabilities—sometimes even more than you realise. Finding out what you don't know can be as important as expanding what you already know.
How to start:
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Review career goals: Write down what excites you and what you’ve always wanted to try using your career self-reflection map. Does a new hobby or skill spark your curiosity? Have you always dreamed of running your own business?
How did Kanisk tackle this? He was uncertain about his next career step, but he knew he wanted more independence: "there was an itch to do something on my own and do my own thing where I can be more in control of my destiny".
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Do your research: Once you've identified areas of interest, dive into them. Create a list of questions to answer, and dive into articles, podcasts, webinars, and networking opportunities to fill any gaps.
How did Kanisk tackle this? His mentor recommended him a career in financial advice, although he had never considered this path nor knew much about it. (Intrigued, he connected with a Partner at St. James's Place (SJP) to learn more.
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Take action: Equipped with knowledge, take small steps. This could mean signing up for a short course, shadowing someone in a role you admire, or embarking on a personal project.
How did Kanisk tackle this? He attended an SJP event and was immediately inspired: "I could totally see myself doing this". He joined the St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy soon after.
Top tip: Be curious and ask questions.
2. Engage: Connect and learn from others
Why?
Surrounding yourself with driven, like-minded individuals can help fuel your growth and make your journey more enjoyable. Engaging with others who share similar career goals and challenges not only can accelerate your progress but also provide insights that you might miss on your own. The support and learnings you get from each other are invaluable too.
How to start:
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Seek mentorship and guidance: Find people in your field who inspire you, and ask for advice or mentorship. Who's in your current network? Learning from their experiences can help you avoid common pitfalls.
How did Kanisk tackle this? Throughout his training, he leaned on the support of his Academy Development Manager, especially early on during the challenging and lonely moments early on.
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Join communities: Participate in webinars, social media groups, or local meetups where people discuss the field you're exploring. This will help you expand your network and deepen your understanding of the field.
How did Kanisk tackle this? Even after his training, he's still in contact with his cohort, meeting up to share experiences, exchange ideas, and provide mutual support, helping one another grow in their respective areas.
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Collaborate: Take on new projects, volunteer, or collaborate on team initiatives to work alongside others in your desired field. Engaging with others will broaden your perspective and strengthen your confidence as you progress. What can you learn from them?
How did Kanisk tackle this? He works closely with one of his cohort members on joint cases—Kanishk brings his expertise in investment strategies, while his colleague offers deep knowledge in long-term care planning.
Top tip: Always lean in for support, never shy away.
3. Evaluate: Reflect and decide
Why?
Evaluating your progress is key to see how far you've come, what you've learned, if there are areas that still need to be developed. Only upon reflection can you make better informed decisions and also have the confidence that you're likely not to have regrets or itches to do something further down, knowing you've already explored.
How to start:
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Reflect: Take a moment to pause and reflect on progress and experiences. What did I enjoy the most about this experience? Was I right in developing this new skill, where can I use it? Write down key milestones, affirmations, and areas for improvement.
How did Kanisk tackle this? He regularly assessed how his new career path aligned with his values and skills. His previous background in investment banking helped him in understanding the investment side, but he took time to develop his soft skills.
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Set milestones: Break down your career goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will help keep you stay focused and on track, giving you also tangible measures of success.
How did Kanisk tackle this? He committed to obtain the necessary qualifications to give financial advice in the UK, and complete his Academy training, as well as realising his business plan. Over the last 8 years, his business has grown organically by 30% each year and he has brought on new advisers. His goal remains clear: "Keep growing" using 30% as a consistent benchmark.
- Make decisions: Based on your critical thinking, decide whether to pursue this particular path further or focus on another. Adjust your goals accordingly if needed.
1. How did Kanisk tackle this? Looking back, he’s confident that pursuing a career in financial advice was the right choice: "You connect the dots when looking back, never when looking forward" and that to do my own thing, "St. James's Place was the best fit" to do so.
Top tip: Trust your intuition, and remember, every journey matters.
By following the steps of 'Experiment, Engage, and Evaluate' steps, you'll have an opportunity to learn more about yourself, your capabilities, and hidden passions.
For Kanishk, he had always been interested in the financial world, starting with childhood memories of playing stock market games with his dad. After a successful career working in large corporations, he had a desire to do his own thing.
It was only through curiosity, engaging in conversations, and taking a bold step, that he found fulfilment when he established his own financial advice practice with SJP. Take your first step towards doing the same now.