Financial Changemakers

Welcome to the Financial Changemakers podcast with Gretchen Betts and Olivia Parnell. In this fifth episode, hosts Gretchen and Olivia, discuss the topic of Age in the Financial Services Profession with their guests, Tom Henshaw, True Potential Wealth and Jane Gow, Clear Cut Financial Planning. Jane and Tom discuss their experiences and wishes for diversity of Age within the Profession. The job market can sometimes ‘accidentally’ discriminate against younger applicants. Jobs within Financial Services often require x number of years’ experience, and a ready-made established client base. This can make it a challenge for younger applicants and may discourage them from entering the profession. From a client relationship perspective, a younger financial planner may be seen to not have the knowledge/life-experience to be trusted with their money. The discussion in this episode is wide ranging, from findings in the Royal Society of Public Health Report – The Old Aged Question, to discussions about work place age discrimination and the importance of ensuring diversity within our social relationships, to enable us to understand other people’s points of view - enhancing our skills as financial planners and employers.  The Key Takeaways from the subject of Age within the Financial Services Profession are: Tom – leave our pre-conceptions and unconscious basis at the door. Try to understand how people have come to the conclusions they have come to and work together with an open dialogue. Jane – with the average financial planners age being 53, Jane would love for every financial planning firm take on a young person. They are the future of the Financial Planning and we owe it to our clients to pass our knowledge on. For all to have a diverse work force, play to everyone’s strengths, and move away from social norms.