My first two months in financial planning

Graduate Jonny Gordon, shares his thoughts on his first two months in financial planning.

Starting my first professional role at Carbon, I was excited, but also unsure what to expect. Working with people’s finances sounded serious, and I imagined a strict environment. Although I had started new jobs before, this felt different: it was the beginning of a career I wanted to build. Two months in, the biggest surprise has been how welcoming it has felt, and how much of financial planning comes back to understanding people.

My interest in finance developed through studying economics, but it was the personal side of financial planning that drew me towards the profession. Throughout school and university, I worked in customer-facing roles in hospitality and supermarkets. I enjoyed speaking to people every day and wanted a career that combined that interaction with the opportunity to help others achieve something important to them.

Before joining, I worried I might be thrown in at the deep end. Instead, I found a warm atmosphere where asking questions feels natural. Craig and Patrick have been a massive help so far, helping me settle into the work I am doing and always being available if I need to speak to someone.

Studying behavioural economics introduced me to the ways people make decisions about money. Working in financial planning has brought that theory to life. Every client has different circumstances, priorities and goals, so there is no single approach that suits everyone. Even when a task looks familiar, the context can be different. That variety keeps me engaged, particularly when there is a problem to work through.

I have also been surprised by how much work happens behind the scenes. My recent involvement in fee changes and portfolio reviews has shown me that every task requires care and attention to detail. These experiences have given me a clearer sense of the skills I need to develop; communicating clearly, checking details, thinking through information and managing my time.

Another difference from university is the shared purpose. Studying often meant concentrating on my own results; here, the work connects to colleagues and clients. It has helped me understand financial planning as a collaborative process, rather than a series of individual tasks. Technology supports that process by helping us organise information and communicate with clients and providers. What interests me most is how those practical tools support the personal relationships at the heart of the work.

Before my interview, I spoke to my grandad’s financial planner to learn more about the profession. The importance of relationships and trust was one message that stayed with me. I am beginning to understand why. A financial goal is rarely just a number: it might represent a home, a long-held ambition or something someone hopes to leave to their children. Understanding that meaning is part of understanding the client.

That is also what makes the long-term side of financial planning appealing to me. Decisions about money can carry uncertainty, and I am learning to look beyond the immediate task to the purpose behind it. The opportunity to help people feel more informed and confident about their plans is a large part of why I chose this career.

Next, I am looking forward to starting my exam preparation and connecting what I do each day with a deeper understanding of the subject. My ambition is to become a financial planner who builds lasting client relationships and contributes to the growth of the business. These first two months have reinforced that ambition, while showing me how much there is still to learn.