For many professionals rethinking their future, financial advice has become one of the most compelling second-career paths. It offers something rare in today’s job market: the chance to build a stable, meaningful profession where life experience, empathy, and communication skills are just as valuable as technical knowledge.
People are increasingly looking for careers that allow them to make a real difference, and financial advice stands out as a role where advisers guide clients through some of life’s biggest milestones with clarity and confidence.
Matilda Lloyd, Financial Planning Academy Associate at The Openwork Partnership, is a perfect example of how someone with no traditional finance background can thrive in this industry. Her journey shows that the qualities many career-changers already possess - the ability to listen, build trust, solve problems, and support people - are exactly what make great financial advisers.
Career change: from beauty therapist to financial adviser
Before entering financial services, Matilda worked as a beauty therapist. During her time in the industry, she “was lucky enough to gain lots of long-term clients, who trusted [her] not only with their face but also with a lot of their deepest and darkest secrets too.”
When she eventually fell out of love with the role, she took time to reflect on what would be important to her going forward. She realised she still wanted meaningful client interactions and the ability to help people, two qualities that naturally led her toward financial advice.
What inspires career-changers to join financial advice
When asked what inspired her about advice, Matilda shared that “the first thing that came to mind was people.” She has always been motivated by helping others achieve their goals, whether those goals are big life milestones or smaller steps that still make a meaningful difference.
She also explained that “advice feels like a puzzle to solve.” Every client has different circumstances, priorities, worries, and ambitions. No two situations are the same, and she enjoys taking all those moving parts, understanding how they fit together, and working out the best possible solution for each individual.
How financial knowledge empowers both advisers and clients
On a personal level, Matilda recognised that developing a strong understanding of finance would “enable [her] to create a better life for [herself].” Being financially informed gives her confidence, independence, and control over her future, something she believes is incredibly powerful.
It’s also something she wants to pass on to others. Helping clients feel more secure and confident about their finances is a major part of why she chose this career.
The importance of long-term client relationships in financial advice
What excites Matilda most is the journey with a client. She believes that “advice isn’t a one-off interaction: it’s about building long-term relationships and supporting people through major milestones and changes.”
Whether it’s buying a first home, planning for retirement, or navigating unexpected challenges, she sees being trusted during these moments as a meaningful responsibility.
Understanding the regulatory and ethical standards of the financial services industry
One of the most interesting parts of Matilda’s transition has been seeing how regulated the industry is. She noted that “the level of responsibility involved and the importance of doing things correctly, ethically, and in the client’s best interests” really stood out to her.
This reinforced how vital professionalism, attention to detail, and compliance are within financial services - safeguards that protect both clients and advisers.
Why transferable skills make exceptional financial advisers
Matilda quickly discovered that many of the skills she developed in her previous job were directly relevant to advising. She shared that “building rapport, communicating clearly, and feeling comfortable in meetings are all essential parts of the role.”
Clients want to feel heard, understood, and supported – and these are qualities she had already developed through years of client-facing work. This is why second-career advisers often excel: they bring empathy, emotional intelligence, and confidence into every interaction.
Career progression opportunities in financial advice
Looking ahead, Matilda hopes to progress into a wealth adviser role. Her aim is to work with clients over the long term, supporting them throughout their lives rather than at just one point in time. She wants to be someone clients can rely on, return to, and grow with as their circumstances change.
She also sees herself remaining within Partnership Services and eventually stepping into leadership, where she can “help develop others, share knowledge, and contribute to a positive and supportive working environment.”
Why Matilda’s story encourages others to explore financial advice
Matilda’s journey shows that financial advice is a career built on people, problem-solving, and purpose. It allows advisers to make a tangible difference in others’ lives while continuously developing themselves, a combination many career-changers find deeply fulfilling.
Her experience is a reminder that many people already have the qualities needed to become exceptional advisers. They just need the confidence to take the first step.
