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News and Blogs Career story: Julie's journey with LIBF’s DipFA qualification

30 August 2024

Julie's journey: balancing career growth with personal life

Meet Julie, a dedicated Mortgage and Protection Adviser at Quilter. Balancing her professional responsibilities with personal commitments, Julie began the journey to earn her Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA). With her children now independent, Julie saw this as the perfect time to advance her career and deepen her knowledge in financial advising.  


Read on to learn more about Julie as she shares her motivations, experiences, and advice for others considering the DipFA qualification to further their careers. 

Managing studying alongside work and life commitments

Q. What motivated you to pursue the DipFA, and how did you manage studying alongside your professional duties?

A. I was motivated to complete the DipFA since my children are now independent, so I felt the time was right to take some time back and develop myself further in my career.  


Whilst studying for the DipFA alongside my role as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser, being a carer, and looking after a family home – I found the best times for me to study were early in the morning. I would often log in for around two hours before work and also studied during the weekends. 


Q. What tips would you give to someone preparing to study DipFA?


A. Firstly, don’t panic! It is a lot of information to absorb, and at times it may be overwhelming. However, with hard work and commitment, it is achievable. A chartered financial adviser once told me it took him three and a half years to feel comfortable in the role. This helped me realise that although I'm learning the basics, it will be a constant learning curve for a while yet. 

How DipFA supports career advancement

Q. How has completing the DipFA changed your approach to client relationships and advising techniques?


A. DipFA has allowed me to feel even more professional and qualified in the role that I do. 



Q. In what ways has the DipFA opened new opportunities or advancements for you? 


A. Studying for DipFA provided me with much better general knowledge when discussing clients' needs and finances. 

Can you tell us about your learning experience overall with LIBF?

"The learning experience with LIBF was very supportive, with clear goals and markers to be achieved throughout the programme. This really helped me stay on track with my studying."

Julie

Mortgage and Protection Adviser | DipFA Completer

Inspired by Julie's story?

We hope so. Ready to invest in yourself? Learn more about DipFA and how it can support you to advance your career. 

What does a financial adviser do?

A career as a financial adviser involves providing expert guidance to individuals, families, and businesses on managing their finances effectively. As a financial adviser, you would help clients make informed decisions about investments, savings, retirement planning, and other financial matters, with the ultimate goal of helping them achieve financial security and reach their long-term objectives.

To succeed as a financial adviser, you will work closely with clients to understand their financial goals, assess their current financial situation, and create personalised strategies to enhance their financial health. You'll provide ongoing support and advice, adjusting plans as clients' needs and market conditions evolve.

Some of the tasks you would perform as a financial adviser include:

Developing personalised financial plans

Assessing and analysing financial health

Providing investment advice

Retirement planning

Estate planning and wealth transfer

Risk management and insurance advice

Becoming a financial adviser can be a rewarding career choice if you enjoy working with people, analysing financial data, and making strategic decisions. It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on clients' lives by helping them achieve financial stability and growth.

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