Is It Time for the Next Stage of Your Advice Career?  

By Jaco Fourie, Chief Business Development Officer, Masthead Financial Planning 

As financial advisors progress in their careers, many begin asking whether the environment that helped them establish themselves is still the one that best supports their future. Recognising when it may be time for a change – and understanding the opportunities and trade-offs associated with different paths – can help advisors take the next step with confidence.   

Building a career as a financial advisor is rarely a straight line. Many advisors begin their careers within corporate environments, where they receive the supervision required under Fit and Proper requirements, together with formal training, established systems and operational support. These structures provide an important foundation, helping advisors gain confidence, develop their skills and gain practical experience early in their careers.  

However, as advisors become more established, priorities often begin to shift. They may want more flexibility in how they work with clients, broader choice in the solutions they recommend or greater ownership over the direction of their careers. 

When it’s time to move beyond a corporate environment 

For some advisors, there comes a stage in their career where the structure that once provided stability begins to feel limiting. As they gain experience and establish strong client relationships, they may want greater control over how they work with clients and shape their professional future. 

A number of factors can contribute to this shift. Some advisors want the flexibility to work with a broader range of product providers, develop their own client proposition or simply work in a way that better reflects their personal and professional aspirations. 

Others are motivated by the opportunity to create long-term value. Rather than contributing solely to a corporate business, they may want to grow a client base that becomes a valuable asset over time – one that can eventually be sold or form part of a succession plan. 

Lifestyle considerations can also play a role. Many advisors value the ability to set their own hours and enjoy greater flexibility throughout their careers – including deciding when they retire.  

Leaving corporate: What are your options? 

When advisors decide to move beyond a corporate environment, there is more than one path forward. For some, establishing their own advice practice is the right fit. Others choose to operate under an established financial services provider (FSP) licence through a partner platform. The right choice depends on an advisor’s goals, experience and the type of practice they want to grow.  

Starting your own FSP 

For some advisors, establishing their own FSP allows them to build a business around their own vision, choose the product providers they partner with and have something of lasting value. 

However, this option also comes with significant responsibilities. Obtaining a licence can be a lengthy and complex process, requiring detailed regulatory submissions and ongoing oversight. Advisors must also take responsibility for compliance, systems, administration, reporting and operational management – tasks that were previously handled by corporate structures. 

Those who enjoy the challenge of running a business may find this level of responsibility well worth the additional effort. 

Partnering with an established platform 

For advisors who want greater freedom without the additional administrative responsibilities of running their own FSPs, operating under an established licence offers an alternative. 

Under this model, advisors fall under the licence of an established FSP, while the platform provides the licensing, compliance, operational infrastructure and administrative support needed to run a compliant advisory business. Unlike a traditional corporate environment, advisors retain the freedom to choose the product providers they work with, determine how they build and manage their client relationships and shape the direction of their careers, while the platform takes care of much of the regulatory and operational responsibility. 

Masthead Financial Planning (MFP) is one example of this model. Advisors operate under the MFP licence while benefiting from ongoing compliance guidance and operational support, allowing them to focus on delivering advice and growing their client relationships rather than managing the day-to-day responsibilities of running an FSP. 

For advisors seeking greater freedom while still benefiting from the support and infrastructure of an established business, this model offers the ideal middle ground. 

An advisor’s perspective: Finding the right fit 

Jacques de Villiers, an advisor based in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, spent almost a decade working in a tied corporate environment before moving to MFP in 2023.  

For De Villiers, the decision wasn’t simply about leaving his employer. It was about finding a way of working that better aligned with where he was in his career and the way he wanted to advise his clients.  

He enjoys the freedom that comes with operating outside a traditional corporate environment. “You can operate as a sole proprietor and in a business capacity. There are no strings attached and there is no agenda being pushed,” he says.  

Looking back, he believes advisors should regularly assess whether the structure they’re working within still aligns with the stage of their career. “Corporates are good for your early career, as you get training. However, at a certain stage, an environment with more freedom is better as it improves your offering to the client.”  

He also recommends that advisors take their personality into account when deciding whether to resign from a corporate FSP. “Do you like more structure with targets and micromanagement? Not everyone has the discipline to operate with greater freedom.” 

A considered and rewarding step 

Deciding whether to remain within a corporate environment or to pursue a more flexible operating model is an important career decision for financial advisors. 

There is no single career path that suits every advisor. Some will spend their entire careers working for corporates, while others will seek greater flexibility through their own FSP or by partnering with an established platform.  

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your aspirations, the way you want to work with clients and the future you want to build. Taking the time to evaluate where you are today – and where you want to be tomorrow – can help ensure that the next stage of your professional journey is both sustainable and rewarding.