Throughout the run-up to HomeGame 5 and as we approach #langcatlive in London next year, we have been collecting stories from across the advice profession about paths into financial planning.

Wingate Financial Planning is alive to the need to attract new talent into advice, and particularly the benefits of bringing younger people into the business.

Here director and chartered financial planner Alistair Cunningham shares why he feels so strongly about promoting financial planning as a career.

Harry Jolly joined Wingate at 18, and now works in the firm’s client liaison team. He’s also shared his perspective about joining the team, in his own words.

Alistair: “Over the last few years we’ve made a deliberate effort to bring younger people into the firm.

“The advice profession is ageing, and if we want a sustainable pipeline of talent, we need to bring people through earlier.

“Our past experience has been positive, and we’ve found that younger staff arrive without preconceptions and learn the Wingate way from the start.

“There’s a risk that some will be tempted by the ‘bright lights’ of the big corporates in the City of London – the Dick Whittington idea that everything must be bigger and better elsewhere. But the reality rarely matches the story. For us, the benefits of developing people early outweigh that risk, and it’s something we intend to keep doing.”

“Before joining Wingate, I applied for several apprenticeships with larger firms. I didn’t enjoy the process; it felt impersonal, as if you were being sorted by a machine.”

Harry Jolly, Wingate Financial Planning

Harry: “I didn’t map out a specific plan to work in financial planning, but the fit has become clear. My strongest subjects at school were maths and economics, and I liked work that was structured but still involved people.

“Through my dad, who works in a bank, I had an early sense of what an office environment looked like. Once I learned the differences between private banking, investment management and financial planning, planning stood out because it suited the way I think – logical, client-focused, and grounded in real situations rather than abstract analysis.

“Before joining Wingate, I applied for several apprenticeships with larger firms. I didn’t enjoy the process; it felt impersonal, as if you were being sorted by a machine. That pushed me towards smaller firms, where you can contribute more quickly and be treated as a person rather than an applicant number.

“When I found Wingate, what stood out was the Investors in People Platinum accreditation, the reputation for developing staff, and the general feel that the firm invests in its people rather than just finding someone to fill a seat.

“My first year here wasn’t what I expected. The early work was repetitive but necessary – the basics matter. After that, everything accelerated. Within a short time I was supporting a director, which is not something I imagined doing after just turning 19.

“The learning curve has been steep, but I prefer that to spending a year on autopilot. The part I’ve enjoyed most is speaking to clients. Once you start having proper conversations, you realise people want clarity and a bit of calm, not jargon. Hearing that clients appreciate the help has made the job feel real.

“What has helped me most is the culture. There is a lot of informal learning, and people make time for questions. The original training plan changed shape once I joined, but the mix of being shown things and then being trusted to take responsibility has helped me progress.

“For anyone leaving school or university, I think financial planning is worth considering. The Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning levels the field – your background matters less than your attitude and willingness to learn. Younger people often arrive without the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ mindset, which helps when processes are evolving and technology is changing how we work.

“The profession is broad, with long-term roles in support, paraplanning, advice, operations and compliance. There’s space for different strengths, and you can build a proper career if you’re willing to put the work in.”

Alistair: It is a risk for both sides when someone joins early in their career, but in our case, I think we’ve all gained far more than we were ever likely to lose.”

Join us at New Blood 2: No Wrong Path on 4 February 2026, Kings Place, London. Find out more and book your place