Graduate to Financial Planner: Fintan’s journey at AAB Wealth

When Fintan joined AAB in 2021 as a graduate, becoming a Financial Planner was a long-term ambition. Five years on, having progressed through several roles and completed his Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, he has achieved that goal. Here, Fintan reflects on his career journey, what he has learned along the way and what makes financial planning such a rewarding career. 

Finding a career in financial planning

“I’ve always had a genuine interest in personal finance and investing. After completing a golf scholarship in America, I knew professional golf wasn’t in my future, so I wanted to pursue a career that aligned with my academic background and personal interests. 

“The AAB graduate programme stood out because of the firm’s reputation and its clear approach to developing young professionals. I knew I would have exposure to experienced colleagues and mentors, and it felt like somewhere I could build a long-term career rather than just start a job. 

“I knew I wanted to work in financial services, but I wasn’t fully aware of all the different career paths available. As I progressed through different roles and gained more exposure to financial planning, I became increasingly drawn to the client-facing side.” 

“Working as a Client Relationship Manager gave me a real insight into the value planners provide. It isn’t just about pensions, investments or tax planning. It’s about helping people achieve goals that genuinely matter to them. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a planner myself.” 

Learning through experience AT AAB WEALTH

Fintan began his career supporting clients and advisers, developing an understanding of the operational side of the business before moving into a Client Relationship Manager role, where he took on more technical and client-facing responsibilities. 

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is the importance of considering the full picture of a client’s circumstances. Having a deep understanding of investment, tax and estate planning is vital to the role, but learning how to apply these to each client’s personal situation is where I really began to see the true benefit of holistic financial planning. 

“Alongside the technical knowledge, it’s been brilliant to watch how the other financial planners communicate with our clients, in turn developing my own communication skills. A key part of being a planner is taking complex financial concepts and explaining them in a way clients can understand and, more importantly, trust.” 

Balancing professional qualifications alongside a full-time role was one of Fintan’s biggest challenges, but it has also played an important role in his development. 

Building relationships that matter

For Fintan, one of the most rewarding parts of financial planning is building long-term relationships with clients. 

“Financial planning is a long-term profession, and you often have the opportunity to work with clients through some of the most important milestones in their lives. Getting to know people, understanding what motivates them and helping them work towards those goals is something I really enjoy. 

“Seeing the real-life impact of good financial planning is incredibly rewarding. Whether that’s helping someone retire with confidence, support their family or simply have peace of mind knowing they’re on track, it’s great to know you’ve played a part in making those outcomes possible.” 

He believes the strongest client relationships are built on more than technical expertise. 

“Technical knowledge is important, but I think the best planners combine that with empathy, communication and genuine curiosity about their clients. People want to work with someone they trust and someone who understands what’s important to them.” 

What’s next for Fintan

Becoming a Financial Planner is a significant personal achievement for Fintan, particularly after joining AAB as a graduate with the role as a long-term goal. 

“It’s something I’m incredibly proud of, but it also feels like the beginning rather than the end. There’s still so much to learn and develop as I continue building my relationships with clients. 

“If I could give someone starting out one piece of advice, it would be to be patient, stay curious and embrace every opportunity to learn. Financial planning is a career where you can genuinely make a difference to people’s lives, and the learning never stops.”

Want to find out how Fintan could support you with your financial planning? View his profile to learn more and get in touch.