Advice holds the key to work-life balance success for young mothers

It’s no secret the financial-advice profession is traditionally known for being male dominated. In fact, only 16% of advisers in the industry are women, according to the Financial Conduct Authority.

While I believe the tide is starting to turn and more women are considering a career in advice, the reality is there are few role models out there illustrating how fulfilling it can be, especially for young mothers.

Having worked in the industry for over 10 years, I’ve had first-hand experience of what it’s like to balance being a mother and an adviser.

From daily school runs and trips to nursery to weekly online support groups for new mums, I’ve met many women who have asked how I manage a job that can be known for a heavy workload and occasional unsociable hours, alongside looking after my two children.

After returning to work from maternity leave, I was excited to jump back into client meetings and get back into action

Although it can be challenging, choosing a career in advice has actually allowed me the freedom to effectively balance my job and my responsibilities as a mother.

After recently returning to work after a relatively short period of maternity leave, I was excited to jump back into client meetings and get back into action. Although it seemed slightly demanding at first, I’ve found effective time management and pre-planning, along with the help and support of my husband, has enabled me to successfully balance my work diary.

Strategically timing client meetings and other work requirements in conjunction with my husband’s schedule has also meant there was no need to put either of my children into childcare, which, in other less flexible professions, simply would not have been an option.

It could really help close the gap in the industry if we were actively promoting it to  young women who want to start a family

In preparation for my return to work, the most important thing I had to consider was arranging my meetings at times that are suitable for both myself and my clients. That said, most clients found it more convenient to arrange meetings later in the evening, as many work more typical 9-to-5 office hours, which aligned perfectly with our schedules.

While it doesn’t always work out as planned, I’ve found that being up front and honest with clients is paramount. It can be easy to forget clients are human and that most will understand you have additional commitments outside of work.

In fact, many clients of mine who are parents themselves have said they have felt a sense of reassurance that I too have children, as it enables me to relate to their needs better.

Over 50% of lawyers are female and there should be no reason why this can’t be the same for advice

Ultimately, the secret to providing effective financial advice is through building solid relationships with people. If you need to take some time off work, whether that be for maternity leave or for school holidays, most people are happy to accommodate this, providing you’ve made them aware of it in plenty of time and are still meeting their expectations.

I’ve also found I’m often meeting potential new clients as a result of my parental commitments, which may not have happened otherwise. There are always important financial decisions tied into the early stages of starting a family and sound advice to parents can help set up their financial future.

Unfortunately, there are very few examples to be found of female planners talking about their experiences of motherhood alongside their career, which feels like such a missed opportunity for the profession.

There are few role models out there illustrating how fulfilling it can be, especially for young mothers

It could really help close the gap in the financial services industry if we were actively promoting it to young women who want to start a family and illustrating how brilliant it can be due to its inherent flexibility.

Over 50% of lawyers are female and there is no reason why this can’t be the same for advice.

Being able to juggle parenthood and a career in advice is just one of the many reasons more young women should be looking at a career in the profession and yet it often flies under the radar.

Holly Tomlinson is financial-planning consultant at Quilter Financial Advisers