UK-based financial advisory firm Progeny will introduce additional courses to its Adviser Academy to increase its students’ knowledge of the sector.
Prospective advisers can get training on professional services – including tax and law – as well as in financial advice and planning.
This will be done through secondments with Progeny’s private and corporate legal teams and tax departments.
The financial advice firm described the multi-disciplinary approach as “unique” and a “first for the industry”, which will give its graduates “a new advantage”.
Additionally, students will be able to access a mentoring programme where they will learn and gain experience from senior Progeny staff.
Complementing financial advice
Gemma Schofield, training and competency manager, said: “The academy allows trainee advisers to develop a deeper understanding of how the financial planning profession works, helping them to understand regulatory requirements while providing exposure to a whole range of additional skills and experiences essential in client-facing roles.
“By allowing them to rotate through a number of departments in the business, ones which complement financial advice, the aim is to foster a new generation of advisers with a more comprehensive knowledge of professional services.
“This is good for their own professional development and their future careers and, ultimately, will deliver a better service to their clients,” she added.
Bridging the gap
Since the academy was introduced in 2019, 10 students have enrolled.
Rob Appleby, one of the current members, said: “The academy is one of the reasons I joined Progeny. It offers all the tools needed for bridging the gap between a technical role and a financial planning role and represents a great opportunity for the next generation to step up.
“Given that the average age for a financial adviser is in the mid-50s, this is incredibly important.”
Neil Moles, Progeny chief executive, added: “We are in the unique position of being able to give our students access to a wider range of skills and experience than any other academy out there. We are using this opportunity to help create a new type of financial adviser, with a broader understanding of how financial advice fits with the bigger picture.
“It’s not about creating an army of identikit sales machines; we want to give our young team members all the support and guidance they need to develop into fully-rounded professionals.
“This way, we can help them to develop into the advisers of the future, with the skills to anticipate the ever-evolving needs of clients and the confidence to lead the way for the industry.”
Progeny said that the expansion of its academy curriculum will continue throughout the year, as it is working on providing training contacts to legal graduates.
