Are you ready to embark on a journey where your ambition meets purpose? At Hartsfield, we believe that helping clients take control of their finances is about much more than numbers—it’s about creating freedom to pursue what matters most. Hartsfield is seeking an ambitious Trainee Financial Planner to join one of our dynamic “Pods” alongside Senior Financial Planners, Paraplanners and Relationship Managers. As a Trainee Financial Planner in our CREST Academy Programme, you’ll support senior advisors, learn a proven advice process, and develop into a fully qualified Financial Planner—all while helping clients achieve their financial goals.
What You’ll Be Doing In The CREST Program
Compliance:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the compliance regime in which we work.
- Ensure our clients fully understand what they are paying for and what they get in return, and that they understand the advice provided.
Reflection:
- Understand your strengths and weaknesses, and work out what you need from whom to be the most successful planner you can be.
- Understand your “why” – what motivates you, and, in turn understand what motivates our clients.
Experience:
- To build ‘muscle memory’ in the way you explain our products and services so clients know they are in safe hands.
- Learn Hartsfield’s systems and processes in a supervised environment before you gain autonomy to captain your own ship.
Sales:
- Understand that sales and service are the same thing.
- Learn how to communicate most effectively with each client type based on your own personality.
Technical:
- Build upon existing technical knowledge to ensure your advice best fits client needs.
- Demonstrate that you ‘know your stuff’ and can explain matters in an easily understandable way.
- Make use of the right products and services to offer peace of mind for our clients
Why Hartsfield?
At Hartsfield, we believe financial planning should unlock possibility, not cause anxiety. As an award-winning firm of Financial Planners, we live by our 3C principle: balancing Client success, Company growth, and Colleague well-being. Over the past two years, we’ve earned:
- Feefo Platinum Status (2025) for maintaining a 4.9/5 Client satisfaction rating.
- Professional Advisers Awards Winner (2023, 2024, 2025 ) for Best Advisers to Work For.
- Bath Life Award (2024) “Financial Category” Winner, with further regional recognitions in 2025.
We foster a collaborative environment where your voice matters, professional growth is championed, and charitable initiatives—like our Three Peaks challenges—allow us to give back to the community.
Why You?
You’ll feel at home here if you:
- Hold the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning: You’re committed to professional excellence and eager to build on what you’ve learned through our CREST Academy.
- Demonstrate Strong Communication & Client Focus: You naturally build rapport, translate complex ideas into clear guidance, and make every conversation feel personal and jargon-free.
- Are Ambitious & Coachable: You welcome feedback, reflect on your “why,” and welcome mentorship to accelerate your professional growth.
- Show Technical Curiosity: You’re keen to deepen your product knowledge—investments, protection, retirement—and can articulate financial concepts simply and confidently.
- Desire a Long-Term Career in Financial Planning: You’re motivated to complete exams (Chartered) under our paid study support.
Where Will I Be Working?
You’ll be based primarily in our Bristol office, surrounded by a friendly Pod who will become both colleagues and mentors. To foster strong face-to-face learning, you’ll spend three days a week on-site. Once comfortable, you’ll enjoy two days of dynamic working from home - striking the right balance between collaboration and focus.
What to Expect
- Comprehensive Training & Mentorship: Full CREST Academy support, including one-to-one coaching, role-play assessments, and structured feedback until you’re signed-off as a Financial Planner.
- Performance Reviews & Progression: Regular check-ins with your mentor and Pod leader, clear milestones toward “sign-off,” and a transparent path to autonomy.
- Collaborative “Pod” Environment: Three days a week based in our Cheltenham office (to learn face-to-face), with two days working from home once comfortable-ensuring balance and cohesion.
- Competitive Remuneration & Perks: Salary range of £35,000–£40,000 (Increasing to £50,000 upon completion of the CREST Academy), 5% matched pension contributions, 33 days’ holiday (plus up to 5 extra days per service year), six times salary life cover, and dynamic working options.
- Study Support: Paid study leave, exam mentors, and access to materials for any required professional exams.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Life insurance
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
