Millennials and women are making up record numbers of Personal Finance Society associates, fellows and chartered financial planners, latest figures have shown.
Data sourced from the PFS has shown that the organisation has grown by 1,100 members over the course of 2015, 50 per cent of whom were under the age of 32.
This means membership has grown to more than 37,000, with 8,600 members at level six, 5,060 members now holding chartered financial planner status and a further 8,400 studying to become chartered.
According to Keith Richards, chief executive of the PFS, there are more female financial advisers coming into the industry and joining the ranks of the PFS.
The total number of women graduating at a recent ceremony in London on 8 April was 36, representing 25.4 per cent of the 142 graduates. The oldest graduate, who became an associate (APFS) on 8 April, was a 64-year-old woman, showing neither age nor gender is a barrier to success.
Overall, the youngest adviser to graduate was 23 years old and celebrating fellowship level (FPFS), while the average was 42.
One of the youngest fellows was Dan Burnham, adviser at Helm Godfrey, who, at 29, is just one of 231 advisers aged between 22 and 30 in the UK who has FPFS status.
He said: “I want to give my clients the best advice possible and one of the ways I can do this is by being highly qualified and having extensive technical knowledge.
“It feels a bit like I’ve done nothing but study over the past two years, but the hard work has really paid off.
“I may take a break from study now, but not for too long. Financial planning does not stand still. Rules and regulations are always changing and I intend to stay on top of that.”
Key points |
Total women: 36 (25.4%) Average age: 42 years old Youngest grad: 23 (FPFS) Oldest grad: 64 (female) |
In September 2015, Angie Taylor, who at the time was a newly chartered financial planner for Glasgow-based Independent Financial Advice World, said women CFPs were needed to meet the needs of a diverse client base.
