Our final perspective, Looking Ahead, is perhaps the most important of all. With our See It, Plan It, Live It framework, you'll turn career aspirations into action, combining insights from the first 3 perspectives: external opportunities, internal motivations, and necessary skills.
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
Take inspiration from Diane Watson Dip PFS, a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, best-selling author, and successful financial adviser who transitioned into the profession as her third career. With her extensive experience, Diane is dedicated to supporting those considering a career in financial advice. Her story demonstrates that with the right framework and mindset, a career change into financial advice is entirely possible. Watch her full story below.
1. See it - What does your dream career look like?
Dreams stay as dreams until you make them real. First move? Get specific and stuck into the details of your career self-reflection map. Define exactly what you want in your next career and why it matters.
After all, you can't aim for what you can't see.
Reflect on your strengths
Your past experiences have shaped you and your skill set. Identify your top 3 strengths and consider how they align with your new career.
Diane's example: She brought her expertise in communication, leadership, and client service from her previous careers in press work and computer-based training, and it became integral to her success as a financial adviser.
Discover your niche and "why"
What drives you? You niche often where your passions and skills meet. Run with it.
Diane's niche: She is passionate about helping others, particularly in empowering women regarding their financial well-being, and bringing more female advisers into the profession. This helped her shape her client acquisition strategy.
Envision your future
Where do you want to be in the next 6 months, 3 years, and beyond? Write them down.
Diane's vision: Her ultimate goal was to become a Principal Partner of a financial advice practice—and she achieved it.
Top tip: See yourself as capable and ready.
2. Plan it - How will you get there?
A dream without a plan is just another wish. How do you make it happen? Create a clear, actionable roadmap for your career change.
After all, preparation is key for long-term success, and the right planning will help you navigate challenges along the way.
Small steps first
Breaking your goals into smaller, manageable steps makes them more achievable. Be realistic.
Diane's example: Regular coaching sessions helped her stay on track. Her Business Development Manager encouraged her to "visualise" what her career could look like if she became a Principal Partner. This guidance helped her focus on building her industry knowledge and experience while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Supporting you
Leverage tools, knowledge, and people around you to help you along the way. Just ask.
Diane's example: She relied on her Academy Development Managers for focus and accountability, appreciating their guidance and motivation. She’s always remained open to listening and incorporating others' advice, finding value in peer-to-peer learning and sharing best practices within a supportive cohort.
Stay adaptable
Plans are rarely straightforward, so build in flexibility to adjust when needed. Always anticipate.
Diane's example: In 2018, Diane sold her financial advice business to Sovereign Wealth, taking advantage of St. James's Place’s succession planning strategies to stay involved as a financial adviser while gradually slowing down. This shift allowed her to focus on what she enjoyed—looking after long-term clients, some for over 30 years—while also welcoming new ones.
Top tip: Make it visual and achievable.
3. Live it - Just go ahead and do it
Ideas and plans are valuable, but it's the steps you take that turns them into reality.
Embrace challenges
Challenges are opportunities for growth. Facing them head-on builds resilience and unlocks new possibilities.
Diane's challenge: Starting her own financial advice practice in a male-dominated environment, with few female financial advisers. She identified her unique strengths and qualities, such as emotional intelligence and empathy, and targeted women as her clients to maximise the synergy with women.
Keep adapting
Success often requires flexibility. Adapting to new circumstances and seeking out opportunities ensures you stay on track, even when plans change.
Diane's adaptability: She embraced opportunities such as podcasts and speaking engagement, ensuring her mission to empower women remained strong and impactful.
Celebrate your wins
Recognising progress reinforces motivation and builds momentum. Celebrating wins—big or small—keeps you focused and energised.
Diane's win: She founded 'She Can Prosper', a platform and book designed to empower women to take control of their financial future. Through real-life case studies and relatable stories, it offers practical, jargon-free guidance for every life stage. The book is a heartfelt tribute to her mother, whose lessons on financial independence continue to inspire a new generation. What storytelling advice can you learn?
Top tip: Act on every inkling and consider every angle.
A final thought: Diane's journey is a powerful example of the possibilities within a career in financial advice. As someone who successfully navigated multiple career changes, she is eager to help others do the same. Whether you're looking to start a new career in financial advice or find ways to give back to the profession, remember that the first step is always the hardest—and Diane is here to help you make it.
In this last step of our career change framework, using 'See it, Plan it, Live it', it's about turning visions into actions. You've identified your opportunities, clarified your motivations, and built the necessary skills—now it's time to make your move. Whether it's launching a new career, starting a business, or pursuing a passion project, the key is to take that first step.