Article
Scott Reynolds' journey: From British Army Officer to Financial Adviser
5 min read 26 Feb 25
Can the skills developed in one industry successfully transfer over to another? Scott Reynolds, a 29-year-old financial adviser from South Wales, is a testament that they absolutely can.
Before becoming a qualified financial adviser, Scott served as a British Army officer. After being medically discharged due to an injury, he transitioned to consulting, leading projects for defence consultancies and defence-based organisations.
Scott was able to make the transition into financial advice, gaining the qualifications and support he needed through the M&G Wealth Advice Academy, to not only attain the required qualifications, but also build his own business.
We sat down with Scott to hear about his journey from officer to adviser and to learn about what motivated him to move into financial advice.
Why you did you want to change careers?
During my short stint in the Military, it was clear that one of the primary aims was to help people. Upon leaving and starting consulting, it became apparent that this same ethos to help people wasn’t necessarily as central to the consulting principles. So I wanted to find a career where:
- There’s a lot of personal interest (I have been keen on all things finance for many years)
- Where I could genuinely help individuals and families, be in the best financial position they can be.
And I found this by becoming a financial adviser with M&G Wealth Advice. I also wanted to be my own boss by creating my own business - joining M&G Wealth Advice allowed me to do this and also it gives me the opportunity to be in control of my future.
Why did you decide to choose M&G Wealth Advice Academy?
For me, M&G Wealth Advice are known for providing outstanding outcomes, for their clients. This reputation was one of the keys things that brought me to M&G and why I wanted to join as a financial adviser.
There’s also an excellent proposition for clients, that I feel meets almost every need that could arise. This and the support offered by the Academy during training and the first few years of owning your own business, made it an easy choice to pick M&G Wealth Advice to partner with.
How would you describe your experience of the Academy?
Overall, the Academy has provided me with an in-depth plan to help develop me into a financial adviser. I joined the Academy already holding the required qualifications. But you can join with no qualifications or experience in Financial Services, and still become a fully qualified financial adviser to help meet real financial challenges that people have.
Since I already had my Diploma, I joined part way through the process. It was a seamless and the entire team were welcoming and offered all the support needed to ensure I was in the right place to see clients and to offer sound professional advice.
The Academy offers a brilliant solution to become a financial adviser, with ongoing support to ensure your success.
How did the skills you acquired as an officer, help you become a financial adviser?
There’s lots of transferable skills I developed through my time in the military, that have helped me succeed in providing financial advice. As an officer you have to solve each problem that you encounter on your journey and not look at them in one large chunk. It’s the same with advising clients, you need to understand all their needs and provides individual tailored solutions to meet them.
In Sandhurst, there is a saying “serve to lead”. I have very much found this ethos applies equally to my current role, as a financial adviser. I’m very much serving the clients, by helping them improve their financial situation and build generational wealth.
How does the Academy support your ongoing professional development?
The Academy provides lots of support to further develop your knowledge, through webinars, written continuous professional development, and group-based discussions, to ensure full understanding. It offers support for additional qualifications and helps guide you through the process of sitting exams to further your knowledge.
The Academy also offers 1:1 support with supervisors, who are experienced financial advisers and have been in the industry for many years. I use their experience and knowledge, to help ensure my client’s needs are met.
Where do you see yourself in three to five years?
I’m currently in the process of building my business, and my ambition is to have many advisers working for my firm. This all stems from the desire to help as many people as possible, to get into a better financial position and help guide them through life’s financial questions.
I would also like to gain further qualifications in financial planning and gain Chartered status at the five year point. This would prove massively beneficial for the clients that I advise.
What is your proudest achievement since joining the Academy?
Achieving “Top Rated Adviser” with VouchedFor in 2024. This recognition shows that putting in the effort and going the extra mile with my clients, really pays off. Their reviews have just confirmed that I’m on the right track to success. I’m over the moon with achieving this in such a short period of time.
Although not a specific achievement, when I have seen clients and helped with their problems, the gratitude from the clients really makes the challenges worth it. This alone is motivation enough to push me further and see how I can help more and more people going forward.
Scott Reynolds' journey from a British Army officer to a Financial Adviser is a remarkable example of how skills and values from one career can successfully transfer to another. If his story has inspired you to change careers and make a meaningful impact in a new field, get in touch.