Welcome to Inside IFP, the series where I sit down with the team over a cuppa to share what it’s really like to work here. My first chat is with Lauren Thompson. Having first walked through the doors at 17 for a week of work experience, she has built her career at IFP. I caught up with her to find out what being a Paraplanner is really like, Lauren’s top tips and how it all began.
Lauren, where does your IFP story start?
I officially joined IFP in September 2019 as an Apprentice, then I got my full-time contract as a Technical Assistant in July 2020. Since, I have progressed through to Technical Executive, then Junior Paraplanner and now I’m a Paraplanner. But my story actually starts in February 2018 when I came for a week’s work experience – I even had my 17th birthday here!
Did you always see yourself going into Paraplanning?
I did intend to go to University and be a Lawyer. So, when I was at school, I did work experience at a Solicitor firm, but I hated it. I knew that I wanted an office job, so I was having a big panic at like 16 thinking ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do, I hate offices but I know that that’s what I’m more suited to’. One of my family friends knew Gregg and they were speaking to him about my situation and Gregg mentioned coming to IFP to see a different type of office environment.
I did my work experience on the Admin team, and someone said to Anj that they thought I would be more suited to the Paraplanning team, so I came back in July 2018 and did another week of work experience with them. I didn’t even know that Paraplanning was a thing when I came for work experience the first time. So I did kind of stumble across it!
What does your day-to-day look like now you’re a Paraplanner?
My main job is preparing recommendation reports for clients, including researching the products they currently hold, and whether we can find a way to improve this for them, and to help them reach their goals. Alongside this, I also prepare any application forms the client would require and submit the business if a client wishes to proceed.
What do you enjoy most about it?
I like cashflows. I love working with the figures and seeing how we can make clients funds work for their goals and seeing the difference that you can make. Hearing from somebody that they’ve retired early, or they’ve managed to go on the big holiday with their family that they wanted to do, or they’re doing something that they didn’t quite think was possible is so rewarding. Being able to show people that what they’ve got is enough or, equally, that they need to save a bit more, really can make a difference to somebody’s life.
You’ve practically grown up at IFP. What skills have you learnt along the way?
Yeah, I have! I’m a completely different person to when I first came at 17. Obviously, I’ve matured a lot, but I also think my organisational skills have massively improved and I see that in my life as well as work. You have to be organised as a Paraplanner because you will be juggling several different things at once, especially at Tax Year-End; you have to make sure you know where everything is, and you’re not missing any deadlines or client information. It’s so important to be on top of what you’re doing. It’s challenging but getting everything done gives you a real sense of pride.
What are your top tips for staying organised?
I love a calendar, in my personal life as well, my calendar is so detailed – and colour coordinated! I also like a to-do list to break tasks down. So my calendar maybe says ‘write this report on this day’, but my to-do list will have the individual steps on. Everything from little admin tasks, to emails I need to catch up on. I have the same at home for my meal plan and cleaning jobs. Everything is on a to-do list – I do live by them!
I imagine being so organised helped you get your diploma. Did you feel supported whilst you were studying?
It’s not easy to work full-time and study alongside it. It’s intense, so coming out with passes in all of the exams is such an achievement. But I did feel supported throughout. There were quite a few people who had recently done their exams, or were doing them, so I got quite a lot of resources and revision tips from them. The financial element – being reimbursed from work when you pass – was a nice bonus too.
It is definitely an achievement to be proud of. Is there anything else that stands out for you?
I would say another thing I’m proud of is the relationships that I’ve built here. Like you say, I’ve grown up here, and my friendship group now has come from working at IFP. I was even a Maid of Honour last year!
You said you had a negative experience in an office before coming to IFP. How is our office different to your initial expectations?
The office that I did work experience at before was quite cold and uninviting; people didn’t sit together for lunch, and when they did, the conversations were just work related. So, I was quite shocked with the environment here – some of the conversations I have at work, I never expected to have in an office! But I think when you spend so much time with people, you do get to know them as more than just a colleague. So, you do get to build actual friendships which, at school, I never expected. I thought you’d just go to work, do your work and then go home, I never thought you’d go to work and have friends.
What’s your favourite staff benefit?
I’ll go with the flexible hours. I think one thing that is helpful about it is appointments – you used to have to use annual leave for that kind of thing. But now I can start work earlier or later around my appointments. It feels like I’ve gained annual leave because I’m not wasting it on life admin. If I wanted to go away on a Friday, I could just finish at 3 and I don’t have to use any annual leave – or book a half day and work 7-10am. I’ve got loads of them booked in this year! I don’t think I would work anywhere that didn’t offer flexible hours now because it does absolutely change your life. The work-life balance that you get from it is so much better.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for a job at IFP?
Make sure you enjoy finance before you apply because obviously it is very finance heavy. I would also say, make sure that you are an organised person because we do all have a high level of expectations and you have got to stay organised with what you are doing in your job role. But I also would encourage them to do it because there’s so much support around you. There are so many people that will help you along the way. The training schemes that we have and other benefits, like the flexible hours that we’ve been talking about, make the extra organisation and expectations worth it because there are people that will support you with hitting those goals.
What kind of person do you think thrives here?
Working from home, the flexible hours and other benefits, I think you have got to be quite self-disciplined to think ‘right, I want to finish at 3pm today, so I need to be in the office for 7:30am’. Having that level of motivation works well here. Also, we have a lot of people that don’t just do the job – they go above and beyond. So I’d say that type of person would thrive here too.
Thank you, you’ve given some really great answers and advice! But I can’t finish without covering the quick-fire questions. So, how would you describe IFP in 3 words?
Friendly, supportive and good work ethic.
Tea or coffee?
Iced coffee.
Office or remote?
Remote.
Early start or late finish?
Both – I love being able to do a bit of both!
Quick or long lunch?
Quick, often for a walk.
And finally, smart or casual style?
Casual.
Lauren’s story is a true testament to the career development that is possible with the right mindset, environment and support. I hope you enjoyed reading about Lauren’s story as much as I enjoyed chatting to her. See you in a couple of weeks with another brew!
If Lauren’s journey has piqued your interest, head to our careers page to see our current vacancies, or email [email protected].
