BRIDGET GREENWOOD

Bridget, please tell us about what you do now and your financial background….

I now help financial companies with their social media and digital communications.. I was an IFA, which I tell everyone was BC (Before Child).

I had thought I’d return to work as an IFA, but my son didn’t let me sleep for the first 18 months of his life, and the firm I was associated with were looking at taking 75% of all fees earned if you brought in less than £250,000 a year. That and RDR on the horizon, and a single mum now, I couldn’t see how to remain an IFA and be the parent I wanted to be.

How did you get into this?  I.e did you attend university, and/or fall straight into a role or was it a more roundabout journey?

I did go to Uni, but I fell into financial planning when I moved to Norfolk and there weren’t any jobs available that would pay me what I was used to earning, so I was asked if “I’d like to sell finance?” I looked into it more and started my journey as a financial adviser.

Can you explain what a typical day for you would be?

When I was a financial planner my days would be a mixture of travelling to see clients, spending time with them, discovering all about them, and delivering a financial plan to fit in with their situation and dealing with all the research and paper work that goes with the job. Also making sure I could find new clients and delivering talks at schools around the area.

What’s your experience from a woman’s point of view. Would you say it is a good job for a woman?

It’s a great job for a woman, generalizing, women are more focused on the big picture for the client, rather than selling products or focused on investment performance

What would your advice be to someone thinking of entering this profession?

That it’s more important to have people skills than to be good with numbers. Learn to get out of your comfort zone and trust your instincts.

What’s your best financial advice for any woman?

Follow the rules of the Richest Man in Babylon for yourself.