There is no place I would rather work as a financial planner than Adelaide.
I have always lived, loved and worked there and I am a part of the city just as much as it is a part of me.
Adelaide is one of the smaller capitals in Australia and is often seen as a regional city, especially in bordering states, where we are too often the poor cousin. Those in Generation Y often decide to explore other places to live or change professions in haste. The monetary rewards for moving to the eastern states can certainly be substantial; however, additional money does not define success.
One of the key things that has occurred to me over 10 years working in a professional practice is the need for balance. To me, the ultimate success is achieving everything I want to achieve professionally in an environment that also allows me to gain all that I want personally.
Being a partner at a large professional services firm and living in Adelaide are not mutually exclusive – they can both occur in harmony. Becoming a partner of a firm I am proud to put my name to has always been my goal and, if anything, the desire has grown deeper over the years. I’m now on the verge of achieving that goal, right here in Adelaide.
Career goals within reach
I started at Hood Sweeney almost 10 years ago, in a graduate position, and am now an associate director on the brink of becoming a partner and owning part of the business. This is a testament to what can be achieved in this state and the many quality business we have the opportunity to work for in Adelaide.
I work within a high-performing team made of talented young individuals who are just as educated and driven as I am, and there are many others knocking on the door. There is no lack of talent in professional services in Adelaide.
I also get the privilege of having a range of clients, from medical professionals to successful business owners, to high-net-worth individuals to not-for-profit charities that assist people with disabilities. There is no lack of diversity in Adelaide.
I have travelled the world over and there are not many cities that strike the delicate balance between large-city opportunities and regional atmosphere. Not many offer you the ability to go from a client meeting to shorts and the beach in minutes, or place some of the best wine regions in the world within hand’s reach, or feature multinational arts festivals.
Adelaide ticks all these boxes. Yes, I am biased, but there is simply no better place to live, to raise and be amongst family, to enjoy friends, and to still fulfil everything you want in a professional career.
Challenges lead to fulfilment
This is not to say that Adelaide doesn’t face challenges. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in Australia, the manufacturing sector of the South Australian economy is all but gone, our ageing population is one of the largest in Australia – and the list can go on.
With these challenges, however, come many opportunities and fulfilment. For example, I provide financial advice to the town of Whyalla, which has an ageing population. The main employer for the town, miner Arrium, is looking to be sold, as it is suffering from the manufacturing and mining slowdown, causing high unemployment. Asset prices across the town are plummeting and general businesses are struggling.
To be able to provide advice to people in Whyalla, some of whom have lived there for 60 years, brings a sense of belonging and self-fulfilment that cannot be bought. I continue to provide personal advice, which often is not just about the financial numbers but the stories and reasons that sit behind them.
Adelaide is often ridiculed for having a small-town mentality. However, this does not mean it is not a great place to do business, start a business or build a business, and it is often the mentality of others outside Adelaide that hinders our growth and our achievements in overcoming our challenges.
I intend to continue to strike a work-life balance in my own backyard. I hope many other current and future financial planners will not be afraid to work and build a career closer to their original homes, and that they too realise great opportunities exist outside of the east coast and within regional Australia.
