The St Albans-based Chartered Financial Planner set up its Adviser Academy last year to train future planners and it saw its first intake in September 2021.

The new intake has joined Lumin’s 2022–2023 Academy programme and will be supervised by learning and development manager Rebecca Lawrie, and Lumin’s Financial Planning manager Joe Fisher.

The Adviser Academy is aimed at graduates looking to pursue careers as financial advisers.

Academy graduates will work towards their Level 6 Advanced Diploma (AdvDipPFS) and, eventually, Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) status.

Trainees benefit from a funded and supported training programme, with each trainee paired with an experienced senior adviser from day one, who they shadow and learn from, attending client meetings with their dedicated adviser from an early stage.

“This ‘on-the-job’ training is an invaluable part of honing and bettering both their technical skills, and the softer skills that are an essential part of client relationship management,” Lumin said.

The trainees – alongside younger qualified advisers – take part in structured communication training sessions and workshops, delivered by senior advisers.

The workshops include case studies and examples of potential client interactions, with a focus on problem-solving, the application of ‘soft skills’, and providing solutions to specific cases.

“There is a clear pathway for those who ‘graduate’ from the Academy, with continuing educational modules, leadership workshops, and the chance to assume leadership roles and take on further client responsibilities,” Lumin said.

The Academy is part of Lumin’s long-term service for clients, providing a pipeline of future adviser talent who can effectively service clients and ensure a smooth transition when older advisers retire.

The Chartered Financial Planning firm has been busy expanding in the last couple of years, including merging with the Swiss financial services provider VZ Group to boost investment and acquisition activity in the UK.

It acquired South East financial adviser Ashridge Financial Management in June and earlier this year acquired Hertfordshire-based financial adviser Enhance Wealth Management.

It acquired Hertfordshire IFA firm Chamberlain Stean and West in 2021 and London Financial Planner Everett MacLeod in 2020.