Financial advisers-please help me!!!

Bonam25

Hi,

I originally posted this thread on another thread, but was advised to re-post her as several IFAs use this forum. So, here goes...

I was convicted of assault back in early 2003, and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. 8 years on and having tried to put my life back together as best I can, I'm now thinking of pursuing a career in financial advice. Actually, I've already started studying for the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. However, I've just discovered that the FSA requires disclosure of all criminal convictions-spent & unspent.

So, does anybody know if the FSA is likely to approve me? And, has anybody had experience of trying to find work in the financial advice sector with a criminal record?

To be frank, this is 'worrying me to death'. When I was convicted back in 2003 I was a secondary school teacher, and subsequently left the profession because I knew that even if I was permitted to continue teaching, the conviction would remain a major 'blot on my copy book'. (I should point out that the violent incident concerned was drink related and nothing to do with school or children.) I desperately wanted to move forward and try to put things, as much as possible, behind me, so I left teaching. After doing 'bits & pieces' for the last 8 years, I've now found something that I really want to do, but this realisation that my past could stand in my way once again, has completely demoralised me.

Any information and/or advice that you could give me would be much appreciated.

jayship

Get in touch with the FSA for more info. They may be able to advise you.

qpop

Fitness and Propriety
Can an individual be approved if they have an adverse credit rating, have been made bankrupt, or have a criminal record?
There is nothing that would automatically preclude an individual from becoming an approved person. Every application is judged on a case-by-case basis on its own merits.

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Doing/Regulated/Approved/persons/faqs/index.shtml

Give them a call and ask.

Yorkie1

OP has already done that - here's the relevant post from OP's previous thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/48806699#Comment_48806699

Meeper

People will claim that you can't work in FS with CCJ's and such also, but I am aware of an individual who has CCJ's still working. I understand that this is permissable under FSA rules provided it is properly disclosed and the firm is aware of the issue and willing to accept the application.

That's a different thing than a criminal conviction though, so I wouldn't necessarily say that it's the same principle.