PFS award winner's advice to young financial planners: 'Don't be afraid to move firms'

Chartered Financial Planner of the Year

clock • 4 min read

Gemma Siddle’s advice to young advisers wanting to scale the ladder of their profession is to find a firm that aligns with their values.

Siddle, 36, is director of county Durham-based Eldon Financial Planning and is set to become managing director as her firm moves to an employee-owned trust next year. The 2019/20 Personal Finance Society (PFS) Chartered Financial Planner of the Year fell into the profession after deciding to skip university aged 19: "My initial plan from when I was very young was to be a solicitor, but in the middle of my A-levels I was awarded a place with the Prince's Trust at Cambridge University… (so) went to Cambridge to do summer school law and absolutely hated every moment of it. I didn't really k...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Feel Good Friday: Royal London opens applications for £10,000 women and girls' rugby grant

Feel Good Friday: Royal London opens applications for £10,000 women and girls' rugby grant

Third year of annual Championing Women and Girls’ Grassroots Rugby Award

Professional Adviser
clock 05 June 2026 • 1 min read
Cohabitation reforms to offer unmarried couples 'more financial security'

Cohabitation reforms to offer unmarried couples 'more financial security'

Government launches consultation

Sophia Panayi
clock 05 June 2026 • 2 min read
M&A platform finds strong pipeline of non-PE acquirers

M&A platform finds strong pipeline of non-PE acquirers

Data from Project Exit shows regional and local advice firms make up more than half of buyers

Isabel Baxter
clock 05 June 2026 • 2 min read