How mentoring has made a difference to the paraplanning profession
Mentoring can open doors, inspire, support and encourage people to realise their true potential and achieve their goals. It is our belief that by investing in the next generation we are helping to shape the advisers of a better tomorrow.
We spoke with several members to discuss their journeys as both mentors and mentees, and the positive impact it has had on their careers.
Rebecca Tuck, financial planner at Paradigm Norton Financial Planning, winner of the 2020/2021 Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year, says: “I have never had a formal mentor but when I started out, I was lucky enough to connect with some excellent experienced paraplanners at events who became my ‘go to’ people and some of my most valuable resources when I was developing my role and career. I am now in a position to be able to return the favour and can vouch for how rewarding it is to help the next generation come through. Designated resources to take away the luck and guesswork, as well as to facilitate connections with great people, is exactly what paraplanning needs.”
If you have time to give back to individuals in our community, then mentoring is one of the most satisfying things you can do
Sasha Wakefield, Chartered financial planner at Paraplanning Hub, says: “Being mentored provides a safe environment for an individual to grow when learning a new skill or role and in turn can be extremely rewarding for the mentor, while allowing them to improve their own coaching and mentoring skillset.
“Having mentored previously, it has given me an avenue to give back to the paraplanning profession, to which I owe so much. Finding paraplanning and the community of amazing individuals that are behind it has really changed my working life for the better. If you have time to give back to individuals in our community, then mentoring is one of the most satisfying things you can do.”
Guidance
Catherine Esland, senior paraplanner at Succession Wealth, says: “Having someone to be able to discuss ideas with and having a source of guidance and support outside of your line manager can be vital in building professional confidence. Some of the most useful feedback I have had is from people outside of my team and it can bring a different perspective.
“As a mentor, it is great to see other people grow, develop and take the next steps in their career; and to feel you have helped with that process can be very rewarding. Knowing that there are so many young, talented people who are enthusiastic about financial services also gives me confidence that financial planning has a bright future.”
Alan Gow, paraplanner at Argonaut Paraplanning, takes up the theme: “If you don’t have a mentor, you are kind of working in the dark. Your mentor will not only answer your questions, but they can also bring the answers to life, giving you an insight beyond what you can gain from a textbook or website. Without my mentor I wouldn’t be where I am today. I learned not just about the technical side of the role but also about what it really means to have integrity. That insight really helped me grow.
“Becoming a mentor yourself is rewarding because you are passing on your expertise, helping someone else to develop and grow, which is really fulfilling. This can benefit not only the individual but also their family, their employer and their clients.”
If you have been inspired by our members’ experiences and would like the opportunity to mentor or be mentored, visit thepfs.org/connect to learn about our Connect e-mentoring programme.
Sabrina Toofanny is marketing executive of member development at the PFS
