How I came to be in financial planning

Did I ever tell you how I got into this business?

In 2003, I returned home from an exciting adventure backpacking around the world.?

Back living with my family in Kent, I was ready to begin a new chapter and came to live in Bournemouth with some of my friends from university days.

It felt like it was time to figure out what I wanted to do in terms of work, with university and the travel bug fulfilled. My emotions were a mix of anxiety and excitement as I'd never known what I wanted to do but wanted to find work that would ultimately be enjoyable and challenging.

In terms of my CV, I had some prior experience working in finance but no clear idea of exactly what I wanted to do. However, I intended to find a career.

Whilst considering different options, I happened to walk past the Alliance & Leicester bank and they had an advert for a bank cashier, so I decided to enquire.?

A successful application process got me the job and I was earning a salary of about ￡11,000 a year; which was just enough for me to pay my rent and live a bit. However, I knew that I did not want to drift along, so I began to learn about other jobs in the bank.

Hazel Collier, my regional manager, was supportive of me establishing a career path and I decided to study mortgage advice. Around this time, it so happened the bank launched a financial advice training programme and I was excited by this opportunity to learn and progress.?Perhaps this was the next step on the career path so I put my application and presentation forwards.

My application was successful and this meant a bunch more exams, along with the banks' training to complete.

By 2005 with training, assessments and exams completed, it happened that a few advisers left the bank.?I applied for the local adviser vacancy and got myself prepared and through the interview processes.

The rest is history!?

I was very happy to get the job as a financial adviser and started gaining experience in helping customers with investments.?

Nowadays, I enjoy running my own business and am passionate about the work I do.?I use my years of experience to do financial planning for people, putting their requirements at the centre of the process as an independent adviser.

I hope to continue to serve clients for many years to come. Through strong relationships and the value of financial planning, I aim to help people solve problems, and achieve peace of mind.

For what it's worth, I believe that a wealthy life is about much more than financial wealth. This perspective comes from my years of experience working with people on their financial plans.

Chris Miles BA (Hons) CeMAP DipPFS