I studied mathematics and its applications for my undergraduate degree. For three years, I ummed and ahhed over what I’d do when I was finally handed my scroll.

There are lots of ways to ‘apply’ an affinity for numbers, as suggested by various career services: teaching, accountancy, teaching, insurance, teaching.

In my three years of study, did anybody mention the term ‘independent financial adviser’? No. Did I, at any point, consider becoming a financial adviser? Well, no.

Let’s suppose for a minute that I know I want to become a financial adviser. After a quick search on how to become an IFA, I discover a list of qualifications I need to achieve (although not from one central body and not all amounting to the same thing), that it could take me a few years to become qualified and that it will me cost an arm and a leg.

So I decide I can afford neither the time nor the money and decide I’d like to be an apprentice instead, getting qualified on the job whilst benefiting from my employer’s experience.

A search for ‘IFA apprentice’ brings up a whole host of news stories telling me that there are many more opportunities for apprentice IFAs, but I’m onto page two of the search before I find a job advertisement for one. And that expired in 2010.

It’s even more than a lack of awareness or opportunity that prevents fresh blood from joining the industry. Former Personal Finance Society president Edward Grant recently argued that the RDR actually creates opportunities for new entrants, but some IFAs say quite the opposite.

Many assume that, come RDR, the majority will be fighting over high net worth clients. The bottom end will use execution only services and those in the middle will be largely left in the wilderness, unless an adviser can create a cost effective service.

This, some say, means a reduction in the number of advisers. Is there really room for new entrants?

This comes on top of a whole heap of concerns about the nature of being a financial adviser in the next few years: the regulatory burden (and costs), the potential for qualification requirements to be upped even further, the challenge of the ‘independent’ title, lack of trust from consumers.

That said, there are always challenges in a professional environment. Always. Getting in new people, new thoughts and new ideas is one of the best ways of refreshing an industry and even starting afresh without worrying about how it used to be.

And if RDR does what it says it’s going to do, it should address at least some ongoing concerns. Maybe one day the teens in this country with an affinity with numbers, a knack for business and great people skills will think seriously about becoming financial advisers.