You’ve probably heard the old saying: when you’re young, you’ve got time and energy but no money; in midlife, money and energy but no time; and later, time and money but the energy’s taken early retirement. 

In financial services, it’s a similar deal. Most roles offer two of the three: time, money, autonomy. Rarely all three.

It’s no secret that financial services can be a brilliant place to build a career. The pace, the prestige, the pay: it’s all there. But so too are the 6am starts, the always-on inbox, and the creeping sense that while your job looks great on paper, your calendar tells a different story.

At some point, many financial professionals hit a point of inflection. Not a crisis – just a quiet, persistent question: Is this it?

If you’re reading this with half an eye on your emails, your ever-growing to-do list or the stacked calendar that somehow filled itself overnight, you might already know the answer: something’s got to give.

You’ve got the qualifications. You’ve got the experience. You’ve built the networks, the credibility, and let’s face it, the stamina. What you don’t have (yet!) is full control over your time, your income, and your direction.

That’s where financial advice comes in. Not as a step back, or as a sidestep, but as a smart career move. One that brings all your existing strengths into sharper focus – and gives you the freedom to actually use them on your terms.

Why financial advice, why now?

The demand for financial advice is real: the UK currently has around 27,000 financial advisers to support approximately 11 million mass-affluent individuals (those with £50,000–£5 million to invest), but experts estimate a shortfall of 50,000 advisers to meet growing needs. That means there are millions actively waiting for a financial professional they can rely on.

The old-school image of financial advice (suits, clipboards, clinical small talk over kitchen tables) has also had its day. Today, financial advisers are trusted professionals, entrepreneurial thinkers, and relationship-builders who command deep client loyalty. They’re not tied to a desk, they don’t bill by the hour, and, crucially, they run their own businesses. If you’ve spent the last decade operating within someone else’s parameters – targets, promotions, annual reviews – you might be surprised by how energising that sounds.

What’s the freedom equation?

The freedom equation goes like this:

  • Time: You decide how your day looks. Want to start late and finish strong? Go ahead. Want to build a four-day week around school runs or marathon training? Yours to design.
  • Money: You’re in control of your income. You set the ceiling, and the rewards are directly tied to your effort, not someone else’s bonus pool.
  • Autonomy: You call the shots. Choose your clients, trust your judgement, and build a business that aligns with your values as much as your ambition.

You’re already 80% there

Most people in financial services are already well on the way to launching a successful financial advice career. You’ve probably got the qualifications. You understand financial markets, client relationships, regulation – so you’re not starting from scratch.

The St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy exists for exactly this reason: to help talented, time-poor professionals build something bigger and more sustainable. We’re not in the business of offering pie-in-the-sky dreams. We offer practical support, structured training, and a community of advisers who’ve made the leap themselves. Many did it quietly. A few did it loudly. None are looking back.

Hear more from financial services professionals who made the move to financial advice.

A few questions to ask yourself

If any of the below feel uncomfortably familiar, you’re probably ready:

  • Do I spend more time managing internal expectations than client outcomes?
  • Have I quietly fantasised about not having to ask for annual leave?
  • Would I back myself to build a business if someone just gave me the blueprint?

Good news: the blueprint exists. You just need to decide whether now is the time to follow it.

The future isn’t waiting

We started with the equation: time, money, autonomy. In most careers, you’re lucky to hold two. In financial services, that’s often the ceiling. But financial advice changes the maths.

With the right support, you’re not forced to trade time for income, or autonomy for security. You can design a career that genuinely works: for your lifestyle, your goals, and your future. One where you call the shots, reap the rewards, and still make it home for dinner.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself staring at your calendar and wondering, ‘is this it?’ maybe the better question is: ‘what if this isn’t even the best bit?’

You’ve already built the foundations – now it’s about choosing what comes next.

Interested in learning more about retraining as a financial adviser? Find out more about the Academy programme.