One of the great privileges of being a financial adviser is that our profession is built on learning.
At its core, our business is about information, understanding and wisdom. We are constantly exposed to new ideas from finance, economics, psychology, history, marketing and beyond.
And unlike many industries where training ends once you qualify, in ours, the journey of learning never stops.
I often say to clients, “I read all the books so you don’t have to.” That’s not a throwaway line. It’s part of the responsibility and privilege of our role.
The more we read, listen and absorb, the better equipped we are to help clients navigate complexity. And in turn, the more we grow, the more valuable our businesses become.
This is a gift. A gift that too many advisers squander.
Clients don’t just pay for portfolios and tax wrappers. They pay for wisdom. They pay for judgment
It’s easy to think that time spent with a book, a podcast or a white paper is indulgent or non-essential. But it’s quite the opposite. Every page read, every idea tested, every viewpoint challenged or unlearned, strengthens the foundations of the work we do.
Clients don’t just pay for portfolios and tax wrappers. They pay for wisdom. They pay for judgment. And wisdom is only earned through a lifetime of continuous learning.
AI has changed the landscape, yes. It condenses, summarises and delivers information faster than ever. But shortcuts are rarely the real path. The shortcut is the long road.
Skimming summaries is not the same as wrestling with the full depth of an idea, or sitting with a book that changes how you think. There are no hacks for wisdom.
As advisers, our ongoing education benefits everyone:
- Our clients because they receive better guidance, sharper thinking and broader perspectives.
- Our businesses because better advisers build stronger practices and deeper trust.
- Ourselves because in becoming wiser, we live richer, more examined lives.
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So treat your learning as a central part of your craft, not an optional extra. Read widely, beyond finance. Psychology, history and human behaviour are as vital to your work as the latest investment research.
Let yourself be challenged, surprised, even unsettled.
Don’t squander this gift. Many professions don’t offer this ongoing expansion of the mind as part of the job. We’re fortunate that ours does.
The wisest advisers are not those who know it all, but rather those who never stop learning.
Andy Hart is founder of Humans Under Management
