Coaching Actuaries’ Post

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫 Whether you’re seeking guidance or offering it, the benefits are immense. Here’s why mentorship is a critical tool for both personal and professional growth in finance: 1. Accelerated Learning: Finance professionals with mentors report advancing their skills twice as fast as those without. Mentorship provides focused feedback and learning opportunities from experienced practitioners. 2. Expanded Networking Opportunities: Mentors often introduce mentees to new connections, expanding their professional network. This can lead to a 60% increase in job opportunities and collaborations. 3. Enhanced Career Progression: Mentees are often first in line when new opportunities arise, thanks to the endorsement and advocacy of their mentors. Studies indicate that individuals with mentors receive promotions 30% more frequently than those without. 4. Personal Growth: Being a mentor also enhances your own skills, particularly in leadership and communication, solidifying your own expertise as you help others grow. 5. Strengthened Industry Health: Mentorship contributes to the overall health of the finance industry by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and readiness. Mentorship is a two-way street that offers significant rewards for both parties involved. Have you experienced the rewards of mentoring others? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear about your experiences! #FinanceMentorship #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalNetworking #LeadershipDevelopment #FinanceCareers

🌟 One of the most fulfilling aspects of my career is mentoring and grooming new financial consultants. Watching them grow and succeed brings me immense joy and pride. 🚀 Being part of their journey, from learning the ropes to mastering the intricacies of financial planning, is incredibly rewarding. Witnessing their confidence grow and seeing them achieve milestones in their careers reaffirms why I love what I do. To all the talented consultants I've had the privilege to mentor: your dedication and determination inspire me every day. Here's to many more achievements together! 🌟 #Mentorship #FinancialConsulting #CareerGrowth #SuccessStories #ProudMentor

Mentoring forms an important aspect of portfolio design.

I spent £400 on mentorship last year And it was worth every penny I was reaching out to AEs at Enterprise companies to learn from their experience One came back outlining the fact he offered formal mentorship blocks He had 15 years under his belt and multiple elite companies It all sounded great - and then I heard the price… £400 (roughly $500) for 4 hours It hadn’t been a great year for commission and my expenses had been rising I mentioned this and asked if there was wriggle room on the fee Unsurprisingly as the experienced AE he is… the answer was no! So I bit the bullet and transferred the money - I’m so glad I made that investment Here’s why 👇 1. My mentor was very generous with his time I paid for 4 x 1 hour blocks but every session ran over significantly as we were deep in conversation I ended up getting much more time than I’d planned for 2. It was a key moment in my career where I needed some guidance There was a lot of uncertainty around what the future looked like We spent time going deep into my career, skillset & ambitions Analysing this in-depth with someone who knows what they’re talking about is pretty rare This gave an invaluable confidence boost at a key moment when it was time to put myself out there 3. We’ve stayed connected My mentor & I caught up recently We had a great chat to learn about each other’s progress And discussed ideas for us to partner together on upcoming projects Spending time getting to know one another helped forge a bond that I imagine will last some time So remember - sometimes it pays to invest in yourself… It can pay dividends! Have you had a mentor in your career? What did you learn from the experience? 

I am dispensable and so are you. So are all of us. And it’s something we should be okay with. This post is a great read. Here is my favorite excerpt from it: “ … intentionally making yourself dispensable will actually lead to you being more successful. It will lead to you creating a career that is sustainable, rather than one that leads to burnout and resentment. It will enhance your leadership skills by requiring you to delegate and train people to do parts of your job, freeing you up to do the parts you are more currently suited to, to up level your skills, to take on the next role. It will lead you to being indispensable in a way that serves you - in a way that has your firm wanting to keep you around even if they don’t technically need to. So you are dispensable, and that’s great news!”

Mentorship plays a crucial role in financial success by providing strategic guidance, real-world wisdom, and actionable strategies. It helps individuals navigate complex financial landscapes and accelerates learning in areas like market analysis, investment strategies, and client management. Ultimately, mentorship leads to career advancement and financial independence. Get a Mentor now. Share #Mentorship #FinancialSuccess #follow

Another successful session with Badu Mentoring Group’s, Prosper Network (18-21) as we delved into demystifying assessment processes to empower our associates to reach their full potential in the hiring journey. At Badu, our mission is to cultivate knowledge, high performance, and excellence. The collaborative energy in the room was a real highlight as we shared diverse perspectives and personal journeys, enriching our understanding of situational judgment. From leadership to conflict resolution, each story highlighted the core competencies of integrity, accountability, and leadership. Some key takeaways we discussed include always thinking about "what ifs" which are really helpful when SJTs are presented in interviews or even case studies. It's important to approach situations where you have thoroughly thought about potential responses/outcomes, and the STAR method is always a great technique. Identifying the core competencies and thinking about what the employer is looking for in the scenario presented is also crucial. The clue is always in the question, and self-reflection is a good measure in terms of where you are at when navigating scenarios like time management, ethical dilemmas, etc. Practice makes perfect! We had a deep dive into what firms like Goldman Sachs, Civil Service, etc., look for in their approaches to SJTs. Continuing to expand your insights through deep dives, graduate experiences, employers, etc., and understanding the values that firms uphold gives a good potential outline of what they may be exploring. Despite my role in leading and researching, I left feeling inspired by the depth of insight shared by the team. It's a reminder of the power of continuous learning and the collective wisdom within our network. In all the shared advice given, I feel a lot more empowered and aware of how to approach SJTs in applications. #thebaduway #situationaljudgementtesting

🌟 Excited to announce that I’ll be attending a corporate mentoring program focused on financial planning and analysis! I’m looking forward to enhancing my skills, connecting with industry professionals, and gaining insights that will help drive my career forward. Mentorship is such a powerful tool for growth, and I can’t wait to embrace this opportunity. Here’s to continuous learning and new connections! #Mentorship #FinancialPlanning #CareerDevelopment #ContinuousLearning

“The context is decisive”. The first time I heard these words several years ago I really had no idea what they meant. I experienced the coach who was working with a team of us from Perth to be a frightening man who I expected would publicly ‘humiliate’ me, and I knew I would learn something valuable from him. He didn’t care what people thought about him and I have always found this quality to be admirable. Undoing my people pleasing ways has been my work to do. I was willing to go through with the pain of the learning journey with this man to see what was available to me on the other side. I persisted. I learned to cope with his ‘brutal’ style. He told me I was a slow starter and an impressive finisher. The analogy he used when he shared with everyone in our group was that I was like an old horse in the Melbourne Cup that comes from nowhere up the back straight to take the race. A plodder. A complete unexpected. I have regularly been underestimated. While I was a speedy Goal Attack on the netball court, I was more of a middle-distance runner. I knew he didn’t have everything right, but he was close. I like to take my time and conserve some energy to get myself powerfully over the finish line. I trusted that what I didn’t understand about how he saw the world and myself would eventually become clear with time. I learned from him that I could create an empowering context for myself, or I could listen to what other people thought about me and go with their story. This was the first time I really got what it takes to shift something that is entrenched. It is up to us to do the work that is necessary and there will be all sorts of guides along the way. Their help is always useful, their timing may not be. Eventually, I learned that even though this man might have had an unorthodox style, he had my back. I could trust him, and he could trust me. I created a trusting context for my own learning. I knew what I needed and accepted what was being offered, putting some stuff to the side to be picked up when I was ready. The context we create for our life determines the decisions we make. We are a whole person, living in a whole family, living in a whole community, living in a whole country. We make decisions based on our context and when we expand ourselves we make decisions based on a bigger context. The context is decisive. Create an empowering context for your life and take actions in line with who you say you are. If you manage landscapes getting this is vitally important now more than ever. Today is day 188 of my 365-day writing challenge. Share with your community if you find anything I have said to be valuable. Image Credit: Unsplash l Stephan Cosma

Work never feels like work!! This is another easy-to-write gratitude post! It’s prompted by the fact that today, 27th of October, is National Mentoring Day. I loved the years I spent building TI Accountancy, and that business will always be in my heart. But I am SO grateful that I’ve retrained as a mentor. I love it. But can’t always explain why. Shamelessly swiped from the National Mentoring Day website, these 3 facts really hit home for me and help explain why I’ve fallen so completely my career change: We all need help in this world. Mentoring gives a sense of purpose to both parties. It’s not only good for businesses, but it’s also good for the soul. Source: National Mentoring Day 87% of mentors and mentees feel empowered by the relationship and reported greater confidence and career satisfaction. Source: Forbes Of those with a mentor, 97% say they are valuable, 55% believe mentoring can help them succeed, 60% look for experience in a mentor above anything else… Source: Sage.com Who wouldn’t look forward to going to work if that were part of such positive outcomes?! What are you grateful for this week? #gratitudeiseverything