So I’ve come to the end of my first month and what an exciting month it has been. I feel like I’m on a journey and discovering so much about the way different companies work and the way different advisers within those companies work.I’ve also been learning how to run a business; something you don’t truly appreciate when you are employed.This week I managed to attend the New Business Live exhibition in Nottingham where there were various talks and presentations from various companies and individuals. There were presentations from HMRC and Companies House, presentations from Accountants and Business Advisers and presentations from individuals who had set up and run businesses. It was extremely useful and provided a lot of information, guidance and inspiration.
It also made me aware of all the things you have to do in order to run a business. Being a freelance paraplanner or being anything where you go from doing your job in an employed position to doing your job on your own in your own business, is not just about making the transition from doing the job. You suddenly have this business to run and you have to do all the things associated with running a business along with finding the clients to do the work for.
You also appreciate all the various resources available to you at larger companies. Now I’m on my own I don’t have access to the Exchange, Aequos, Financial Express Analytics, Synaptics, Morningstar Adviser Workstation or any of the back office systems.
I am still firmly of the opinion and probably even more convinced in this economic climate that there is a defined space for freelance paraplanners along with employed paraplanners and having both options allows Planners and Advisers to choose which one is most appropriate for them.
Starting a business is both exciting and something which also forces you to learn new skills but throughout my first month, when I wondered whether I should still be employed, I reminded myself often of the quotation from General Douglas MacArthur which appeared on the back of New Model Adviser on 12 January this year.
“There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity”
So I look forward to an exciting February and one which is full of work and opportunities.
