When job security’s a myth, owning your business makes sense

This World Entrepreneurs Day offers an opportunity to reflect. Our attitudes to work have changed. The promise of a 40-year career leading to a gold-watch retirement just doesn’t resonate like it used to. Now, it’s about purpose, autonomy, and a working life that fits around actual life.

Even the most traditional careers are being reshaped by automation, budget cuts, and the remote-first revolution. What once looked like a steady climb up the corporate ladder now feels more like a game of hopscotch: bouncing between restructures, short-term roles and unexpected career detours.

But here’s the upside: if the old safety net is full of holes, maybe it’s time to stop patching it – and start building your own.

This isn’t a leap of faith: it’s a smart move

Starting a business used to sound risky. Now, staying still does. More and more professionals are realising that being in control of your own income, your own time and your own value is the most secure position of all. Entrepreneurship isn’t a rebellious detour anymore. It’s the new normal.

This is particularly the case in financial services, where human connection still matters deeply. People aren’t looking for an app to tell them how to retire. They’re looking for someone they trust to walk the journey with them.

Hear from Catherine on how setting up a business allows her to help her clients in new ways:

The financial advice gap = opportunity 

There’s a growing demand for financial advice in the UK: especially personalised, regulated, human-led advice. Yet there’s a talent shortage. That means huge potential for people who are ready to step into that space.

At the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, we support career-changers, parents returning to work, finance professionals looking for purpose, and aspiring entrepreneurs: all stepping up and building something for themselves. And doing it with the support of a well-respected brand and a proven model.

Thinking about starting your own business? Here’s what to do next

If you're starting to seriously consider the idea of going out on your own, here are a few practical steps to help you explore it further:

Audit your strengths 
What skills, experience or network do you already have that could support a move into financial advice? You might be more prepared than you think.

Get clear on your ‘why’ 
Do you want flexibility? Freedom? Fulfilment? A long-term income stream? Knowing your motivation will shape how you build.

Speak to people who’ve done it 
Connect with other business owners in your industry. For example, if you’re exploring financial advice, connect with people who started via SJP Academy or similar routes. Hearing real stories makes the idea more real – and more achievable.

Explore your support options 
Going solo doesn’t mean going unsupported. A structured programme like SJP Academy can give you the training, mentorship and backing you need to start strong.

Start planning, even if you’re not ready to leap 
Whether you launch in three months or a year, start putting wheels in motion. Research. Save. Chat to your support network. Sketch your vision.

Stable employment is no longer the North Star for most careers

For many, the old idea of steady jobs leading to a predictable retirement just doesn’t cut it anymore. Instead, people want a career that works for them on their terms: flexible, meaningful and built to last. Starting your own business lets you take control and create security in a way that fits today’s world. Because when the old rules don’t apply, it’s time to write your own.

Thinking about launching a business in financial advice? Hear more about how the Academy can support you today.