Becoming a financial planner took an unconventional route for Hetty Hyde-Durrant, rockwealth’s newest team member. In part two of our interview, she talks to Robin Powell, rockwealth’s Head of Client Education, about her path into the profession, what attracted her to planning-focused firms, and the rewards of helping clients navigate major life decisions.
For many people entering financial services, the traditional route involves starting in administration, moving to paraplanning, then eventually becoming an adviser. Hetty Hyde-Durrant took a different path entirely, one that gave her unusual insight into how the industry works behind the scenes and ultimately shaped her approach to becoming a financial planner.
Her career began with a graduate placement in accounts, which quickly taught her that number-crunching wasn’t her calling. After completing a master’s in economics and public policy, she landed a role at St James’s Place head office in their fund and investment operations team.
“I spent three years focusing on fund pricing, compliance, and making sure fund managers, custodians and trustees were following regulations,” she explains. “It gave me a different perspective on advice because I could see all the infrastructure that needs to work properly in the background.”
From operations to proposition
After mastering the technical side, Hetty moved into the investment proposition team, where she worked on improving the tools and systems that advisers use with clients. She helped develop attitude-to-risk guides, worked on cash management platforms, and was involved in launching cashflow modelling software.
“I got to see different parts of the advice journey, but from the head office side,” she says. “I was working with advisers, getting their feedback, making improvements to systems and processes, then getting feedback again. It was this constant loop of improvement.”
The fast track to qualification
When Hetty decided to switch from supporting advisers to being one, becoming a financial planner became her singular focus, and she threw herself into studying. She completed all her Regulated Qualifications Framework exams in just one year, then immediately started work to become a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP) professional.
“Once you stop doing exams, it’s hard to get going again,” she reflects. “So I just kept the momentum going.”
Her dedication paid off. She won the CISI award for the highest combined grades on the advanced diploma, completing her CFP case study just over a year after starting her first adviser role.
What attracted her to rockwealth
When looking for her current role, Hetty’s research into becoming a financial planner had taught her to have clear criteria. She researched firms systematically, looking for three key things: fair and transparent client fees, evidence-based investment approaches, and cashflow modelling at the heart of the planning process.
“I went through every IFA I could find,” she says. “Ideally I wanted a smaller team where I would have a voice. But more importantly, I was looking for firms that prioritised financial planning over product sales, charged fixed fees rather than percentages where possible and used evidence-based investing”.
The intellectual challenge
What keeps Hetty engaged is the combination of technical complexity and human relationships that financial planning demands.
“There aren’t many jobs that require both emotional intelligence to work with clients and technical intelligence to master the subject matter at such a high level,” she explains. “You’re constantly learning and keeping on top of regulations, tax changes, and market developments. Then you get to apply all that knowledge to help real people with their life decisions.”
The client relationships are particularly rewarding. Beyond the technical advice, Hetty enjoys getting to know families over the long term, hearing about their years, and sharing in their major milestones.
“Client meetings often start with ‘tell me how your year’s been’ and then they do,” she laughs. “I genuinely enjoy hearing about people’s lives and their families.”
The satisfaction of saying ‘you can retire’
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of her work is helping people understand they have more financial security than they realised. Many clients approaching retirement have spent years worrying whether they’ll have enough money, only to discover through proper planning that they have options they hadn’t considered.
“It’s really empowering when you can tell someone they can choose to work rather than having to work,” Hetty explains. “That takes a massive weight off their shoulders and opens up possibilities they hadn’t thought about.”
Life beyond planning
True to rockwealth’s “life is for living” philosophy, Hetty makes the most of her time outside work. She’s an avid traveller who plans every bank holiday and annual leave day months in advance, often incorporating cooking courses into her trips to bring new culinary skills back home.
“I love travelling and trying new foods” she says. CrossFit provides her daily dose of physical challenge, while cooking offers a screen-free way to unwind after mentally demanding days.
Routes to becoming a financial planner
For anyone considering becoming a financial planner, Hetty’s journey shows there’s no single path to success. Her operational background gave her insights that many advisers lack, while her systematic approach to career moves ensured she found firms that matched her values.
The key, she suggests, is understanding what type of planning you want to do and finding firms that share your philosophy. Whether that’s comprehensive financial planning or more transactional advice, fee structures that align with your values, or investment approaches backed by evidence rather than marketing, doing your research pays dividends.
“Know what you stand for professionally and find firms that operate the same way,” she advises. “It makes all the difference to job satisfaction and client outcomes.”
If Hetty’s approach to financial planning resonates with you, why not get in touch. We would love to have a conversation with you.
Missed part one of this interview? Read it here.
Financial Adviser in Cheltenham
rockwealth is an evidence-based and fee-only IFA and Financial Planning firm situated in the heart of Cheltenham, Cotswolds.About: rockwealth IFA, is based in the centre of Cheltenham. As a financial planning firm, we can help with many financial services, from independent financial advice, pension and retirement advice, investment advice and inheritance tax planning.
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