International financial advisory firm Hoxton Wealth is setting up a free to access online community for anyone aspiring to a career in financial planning, regardless of whether they work for the company or not.
The community, which is aimed at both trainee wealth managers and those in the industry looking for information on the international space as well as UK financial planning, will feature monthly Q&A sessions, an open forum for members to ask questions. Study support, which will include qualification information, as well as access to industry events and career clinics, taking in subjects including CVs and interviews.
Participants will also be able to post about things that they’ve done in the week that have helped them get closer to becoming a wealth manager or to talk about interviews that have gone well.
Members will also get early access to the Hoxton Life podcast and Don’t Shoot the Messenger newsletter.
Oliver Gorman, head of recruitment at Hoxton Wealth said: “We will be holding Hoxton community events once a year, inviting members to it and offering some people from that process into our trainee wealth manager course.
“But even if you do not get a job with us, we’re still going to work with you to develop your skills and obviously give you the relevant information to make important decisions on your career in wealth management.”
In addition, the firm is launching its first batch of hiring into the UAE through its Trainee Wealth Manager programme.
Gorman added: “The Wealth Manager programme provides those looking for an entry-level role with early experience of prospecting, dealing with marketing leads and contacting the clients and getting them booked in with advisors. Participants will also gain qualifications during the process.”
It’s a great option for candidates, particularly those in the UK, who are working hard to succeed but haven’t yet seen opportunities materialize this is a real opportunity to build value for others & learning while generating an income
Hoxton Wealth has been running the Wealth Manager programme for two years as the first stage in its career pathway, and prior to entering the firm’s Pathway Academy, from which many of its current, successful wealth managers have emerged.
One of those is Ravi Singh Gill, a UK-qualified Financial Planner at Hoxton Wealth, based in Dubai. Having completed five transformative years in Hoxton’s Trainee Wealth Manager programme, Ravi is now thriving in his second year on the Financial Planner Pathway, and now has more than £20 million worth of assets under management.
Speaking on the Hoxton Life podcast, Ravi said: “I did a four-year international business management and finance course at university that included two semesters abroad: one in France and one in Hong Kong. This showed me there were a lot more opportunities outside of the UK.
“When I was in Hong Kong there were a lot of international students from the US and one of the courses we were taught was about investment management. In the UK, that sort of course just wasn’t taught, or at least not at my university. I realised talking to those other students that there are a lot of opportunities in the finance industry; a few worked at consultancy firms in the US, and I thought it sounded interesting.
“So, I looked for international programmes available overseas. I was accepted onto a graduate programme and was given two overseas options: one in Malaysia and the other with Chris Ball, the CEO of Hoxton, who had a position available in Qatar.
“I learnt quickly that this is a career I was signing up for. It’s not a get rich quick scheme. You need to understand what financial planning is all about before you get into it. Typically, on the graduate programme, they said you would do around 18 to 24 months of the training and then you could step up to become a full financial planner. And I’ve never looked back.”
