Keeping it in the family
Financial advisers have all kinds of origin stories. Some have worked in other parts of the financial industry; some have worked in other sectors altogether. And for others still, it’s in the blood.
That’s the case with Jacob Miskimmin, a financial adviser at Milecross Financial in County Down, Northern Ireland.
“What inspired me to become a financial adviser?” It was really my dad, who’s a financial adviser himself,” he says.
So financial advice was a family affair. But it wasn’t a guaranteed career path by any means. Instead, Jacob had to prove his worth:
“My dad said, ‘I’ll give you three months to come and work for me. If you’re not any good, you’re getting the boot’.”
How Openwork helps
When you’re starting out in a new career, it can feel daunting – even overwhelming. But there’s plenty of support available to help you succeed. This includes Openwork’s Business School and their Wealth Academy Programme, which help you not only with exams but also with building client relationships.
With his dad’s clock ticking, Jacob took full advantage of Openwork’s programmes to get his skills up to speed.
“Openwork’s given me quite a lot of support. I went through their Wealth Academy Programme when I first joined. They trained me up to be an adviser. They train you on how to deal with the exams and how to deal with clients.”
Going from strength to strength
That support helped Jacob keep going, even when the going got tough, as it inevitably does in a new position.
“The best advice I’ve received since starting my career is ‘don’t give up’. There are many times in your career where you think that you might be better doing something else. But as it stands, I’m very glad that I haven’t given up.”
And with the expert training he received from Openwork, Jacob was able to find his feet quickly and flourish in a career that’s gone from strength to strength.
“Seven years on, here I am.”
A truly fulfilling career
So, now that he’s well established in the role, what does Jacob see as its main attractions? Well, variety adds a fair bit of spice to the life of an adviser – one day is never the same as another.
“I work with business owners, with teachers and with sports people, for example. And that’s what I enjoy about the job: meeting different people in different situations and different scenarios.”
And alongside that variety comes the sheer satisfaction of helping real people reach their goals. For Jacob, that’s the key to a truly worthwhile career:
“The most rewarding part of my job as a financial adviser would be meeting with the clients, seeing clients achieve their outcomes on their own and also meeting their needs.”
How would he sum it all up?
“The three words that I would use to describe working with Openwork would be fulfilling, fun and challenging.”
Interested in Openwork?
Does Jacob’s journey remind you of your own? If you’re working as an adviser, you’re undoubtedly the kind of person who keeps going, doesn’t give up and thrives on challenge. But when those challenges are coming thick and fast, it helps to have a whole network of colleagues behind you.
That’s where joining Openwork can be a real advantage. And we’ll also help you grow your business, hone your skills and keep abreast of all the latest industry developments. We’d love to show you what we can do for your firm, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.