The perfect path to a rewarding career

If you ask people how they became a financial adviser, nine out of 10 will tell you the same thing – the profession found them,” says Leanne Ferreira CFP® from Milpark Education. “Very few people set out to study financial planning from the word go. It’s a career that tends to find you, and ultimately, you find yourself in it.”

Financial planning, she explains, attracts a particular kind of person, generally someone who is curious, analytical and driven to help others. “It’s a career that blends people skills with problem-solving. You get to combine your passion for working with individuals with the ability to think strategically and plan for long-term goals. That balance is what makes it so rewarding,” Ferreira says.

Beyond the emotional fulfilment of guiding people toward financial security, the profession also offers strong earning potential, flexibility and independence, all qualities that make it increasingly appealing in today’s world of hybrid work. “Especially for women, it can be an incredibly empowering career,” she adds. “It offers the freedom to build a successful professional life while still allowing space for family and personal commitments.”

But while it’s a career that rewards empathy and intuition, it also demands a deep sense of responsibility. “As a financial adviser, you hold people’s financial futures in your hands,” Ferreira notes. “You’re guiding them through some of the most important decisions they’ll ever make, around retirement, risk or estate planning, and the onus is on you to give ethical, informed advice. That’s why continuous learning and professional development are so essential.”

The education journey

Once you’ve decided to become a financial planner, the next step is choosing an education path that builds both your technical skills and professional credibility. According to Ferreira, the key lies in formal qualifications that align with the industry’s professional body, the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) frameworks.

 “At Milpark Education, we design our programmes to meet the FPI’s learning requirements and cover the Financial Planning Curriculum Framework at the appropriate level.”

That curriculum is shaped not only by industry standards but also by legislation and professional ethics. Ferreira explains that Milpark’s academic team – most of whom are Certified Financial Planner® professionals themselves – constantly review and update course material to reflect changes in tax laws, regulation and market realities. “Our content has to evolve every year,” she says. “Tax laws change, new frameworks like the two-pot retirement system come into effect, and suddenly your textbook from last year is outdated. So we rewrite, recheck and make sure our students always have the most current knowledge.”

From theory to practice

Financial planning is not a field where theory alone is enough. Ferreira believes that the most effective education is rooted in real-world scenarios. “We use examples drawn from the industry that include actual client situations our instructors have faced,” she says. “Our assessments don’t just ask students to recall facts; they must apply what they’ve learned. You can’t just tell me what’s in the Act; I want to know what you’d do with that information.”

That emphasis on critical thinking and application is what sets the professional planner apart. Ferreira says the programme structure is designed to reflect that journey: “We offer the complete pathway from foundation to expert. You can start at entry level, build your foundational knowledge, and then move up through the Advanced Certificate, BCom and postgraduate studies. Graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning meets the education criteria required to apply for the internationally recognised  CFP® Professional Designation membership with the FPI. 

For students balancing work and study, the programmes are flexible and fully online. “Most of our students already work full-time,” she notes. “Our qualifications are designed for distance learning, with live interaction, discussions, and ongoing support.” Depending on your path, an entry-level qualification can take about 18 months, while a BCom degree takes three years part-time.

Adapting to a digital future

As technology reshapes financial advice, Ferreira says education providers must help students navigate the changing world. “We’re fortunate to already be in the online learning space, so we use technology to enhance engagement and learning,” she says. “Our courses are immersive – you don’t just get a textbook and exam date. You participate in interactive learning, with live sessions and digital tools.”

That includes embracing artificial intelligence. “We teach students to use AI responsibly,” Ferreira explains. “For instance, we might ask them to prompt AI for a response, then analyse where it went wrong or how to improve it. It’s about understanding how to use it wisely because AI shouldn’t replace the human, but it can be an incredible tool.”

Lifelong learning and professionalism

Financial planning is a dynamic profession because legislation, products and client needs are always changing. Continuous learning is therefore not optional. Certified Financial Planner® professionals are required to complete 35 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) each year to retain their designation.

“We offer a large selection of CPD short courses and regulatory programmes,” says Ferreira. “Whether you’re new to the industry, require a qualification to be compliant with the FAIS Act, or aiming for professional recognition, there’s something that fits your needs.”

Ferreira believes this constant evolution is what makes the profession both challenging and rewarding. “It’s not a career where you can ever stop learning,” she says. “Every client is unique, every solution is different, and every day brings something new. For those who are curious about the world and love solving complex problems, it’s an incredibly fulfilling profession.”

She adds that education has also helped elevate the industry’s reputation. “Financial planning used to have a poor image, but that’s changing. Regulation and professional standards have brought credibility. We want to professionalise the industry, so that advisers are not just salespeople, but trusted partners in their clients’ financial wellbeing.”

Ferreira smiles when she describes the role: “It’s like being a finance doctor because you diagnose, you treat and you walk the journey with your client. It’s a profession built on trust, knowledge and care.”