Advisers acknowledge pressure but say support, flexibility and purpose are being overlooked
More than half of UK adults say they would not consider a job in financial services, with many citing stress, inflexibility and a lack of relevant skills as key deterrents. Yet brokers on the front line of the mortgagemarket describe a very different picture: long hours and pressure, certainly; but also flexibility, autonomy and a strong sense of purpose.
Recent research commissioned by specialist lender Market Financial Solutions found that 55% of UK adults, excluding retirees and those already working in the sector, would not consider a role in financial services. A third of respondents pointed to a perceived lack of suitable skills or qualifications, while more than a quarter saw the sector as too corporate or inflexible. A similar share simply found it uninteresting, and almost a quarter were concerned about workplace stress.
Perceptions also diverge sharply by age. According to the survey, 60% of 18- to 34-year-olds said they would consider a financial services career, compared with only 29% of those aged 55 and above. For brokers, that younger cohort often proves well suited to the demands – and rewards – of mortgage advice.
Steven Morris (pictured top left), director of Advantage Financial Solutions, said the combination of intensity and upside is a powerful draw for younger recruits.
“My experience of financial services through mortgages is that it has: long hours, high stress, fast pace, and low barrier to entry. CeMAP is an easy exam in the grand scheme of things. Potentially high rewards both financially and in job satisfaction, if you work for the right company,” he said.
“When you combine all these factors, it is no wonder of all demographics, most likely to be attracted to (and handle) financial services, are young twenty-somethings.”
He added that prospective entrants need a clear-eyed view of what the job involves. “My advice to someone considering financial services is to think carefully about whether the specific risks and efforts required justify the potential rewards,” Morris said.
“If you enjoy helping people, problem solving and getting results even for those clients that other advisers may have decided aren’t ‘proceedable’, it can be an incredibly rewarding role.”
For some advisers, the biggest obstacle is not the reality of the work but how it is seen from the outside. Samantha Bickford (pictured top right), mortgage specialist at Clarity Wealth Management, said public perceptions are often shaped by distance from day-to-day practice. “I think the idea of financial services being overly corporate or intimidating comes from a lack of visibility into what the industry really is,” she said.
“When people hear ‘financial services,’ they imagine suits, jargon, and pressure! But in reality, there’s so much variety. I came into the industry in my late twenties with no financial background and quickly realised it’s much more about people, problem-solving, and helping clients achieve real goals. We just don’t showcase that side enough.”
Bickford said the working environment in the mortgage and protection space is often far more flexible than the stereotypes suggest, particularly for advisers running their own business.
“It’s actually very flexible and people-focused,” she shared. “I run my own business, and while it’s busy, it’s also incredibly rewarding. The mortgage and protection side of the industry is all about human connection, helping people buy homes and secure their financial futures. It’s not the corporate, suit-and-tie world people imagine. There’s far more autonomy now, with hybrid working, supportive networks, and firms that genuinely value work-life balance.”
Stress remains a concern for many outside the industry, and advisers do not deny the pressures of managing deadlines and lender processes. But for Bickford, better structures, communication and support networks have changed how brokers cope with the workload.
“I stay organised and honest with clients about timelines, which keeps things manageable,” she said. “The industry’s come a long way in terms of mental wellbeing, advisers are much more open about challenges, and there’s a great sense of community and peer support which can be found by joining networking groups or even linked in can be a great sounding post for likeminded financial professionals.”
Both advisers see younger generations as well aligned with a profession built around client outcomes. For Bickford, the appeal lies in visible impact, coupled with the potential to broaden entry routes into the sector.
“Younger generations are drawn to careers where they can make a real impact, and this industry offers exactly that,” she pointed out. “You can see the difference you make in people’s lives every single day.
“I’d also love to see more apprenticeships specific to financial services. So many young people go into generic business or admin roles, but there’s rarely a clear route into our profession. Introducing financial education and career awareness in schools could make a huge difference, not just for recruitment, but for improving young people’s own financial understanding as they become adults.”
For those wary of finance as a career choice, Bickford argued that outdated notions of rigid corporate culture and heavy technical demands no longer reflect much of the mortgage advice market.
“Don’t be put off by old stereotypes! it’s not all spreadsheets and suits! You don’t need a finance degree; what matters most is empathy, integrity, and good communication,” said Bickford. “It’s a flexible, fulfilling career that genuinely helps people. Find a mentor or company that aligns with your values and give it a go – I’m so glad I did.”
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