A highly-respected financial planner has achieved a prestigious global qualification within her profession.

Victoria Seabrooke, who works for the renowned Lyndhurst Financial Management that has offices in Hitchin and Harpenden, has become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Modest Victoria, who had previously been awarded a prize for the highest overall achievement at advanced level as a Chartered Financial Planner, told Hitchin Nub News she was 'relieved' to have qualified as a Certified Financial Planner.

Pathway to success

After graduating in Economics from Nottingham University and qualifying as a chartered accountant, Victoria worked in banking, consultancy and corporate finance.

Over the course of her 12 years in corporate finance prior to joining Lyndhurst's 64a Harpenden High Street office, Victoria practiced as a chartered accountant at big four firm Deloitte, as well as global bank Citi, working at the Strand, Canary Wharf, Covent Garden and Kings Cross in the process.

Life events saw Bedfordshire-born Victoria decide to venture into financial planning when she joined Lyndhurst in 2014.

"I had my daughter and a big back surgery and decided I needed to change tack," Victoria tells Nub News, adding: "I approached Lyndhurst and they were happy to take me on. I've tried to focus on getting a really high level of qualification – and that's where I am now."

Humble Victoria omitted to say that she has achieved the highest global certification available to financial planners.

Quite simply her hard-earned qualifications are seen as outstanding in the industry.

It's not easy to become a CFP, and for good reason. Helping people navigate their finances is an important job.

The certified financial planner accreditation is a qualification that demonstrates competence to not only deliver the technical knowledge to their clients, but also to help them achieve their life goals and ambitions by incorporating lifetime cash flows, disaster scenarios, varying degrees of risk and inflation, tax planning and the provision of a comprehensive financial plan.

To become a certified financial planner, an individual must demonstrate their ability to compile a comprehensive financial plan for a specimen client which includes producing a net worth statement, a tax calculation, a lifetime cash flow forecast, consideration of legal issues, and then applying their technical knowledge to make recommendations about how the client should proceed in order to achieve his or her goals.

Mum leads the way

Busy Victoria is also a proud mum to an eight-year-old daughter who is currently in Year 3.

"She has been aware of my study," she explains, adding: "It has been difficult at times, but I think it's a good lesson for her to see me study. It was almost a case of 'mummy's got to do her homework, so you've got to do your homework.'

"In English she was doing a lot of editing of her own work and I showed her that I was having to do that in my reports. I tried to make my study transparent."

During her year of study - on top of work, as well as being a mother - the constant coursework requirements were gruelling, as Victoria recounts.

"It went in stages," she recalls. "You would submit it ands then they would give you feedback. It added up to a lot of hours over a year.

"There would be spells of around eight to ten weeks work and then you would submit it.

"During these periods I worked most weekends on it. It was a bigger time commitment than I realised.

"It was a big commitment especially at a time when everyone was under even more strain due to lockdown."

Lockdown challenges

Lockdown has been tough on so many people, for so many reasons, on so many levels.

So it's no surprise Victoria has been hailed by Lyndhurst colleagues for emerging with such a respected qualification – one that demanded a huge time commitment and utter professionalism.

"Victoria's commitment to completing her qualifications to the highest standard has been nothing short of exceptional," said Lyndhurst operations director Adam Cook, adding: "To achieve her most recent qualification as a Certified Financial Planner while adapting to the challenges of home working and homeschooling is quite remarkable.

"It demonstrates her commitment to helping our clients make better financial decisions."

A certified financial planner is a type of financial advisor who possesses one of the most rigorous certifications for financial planning knowledge.

CFPs must have several years of experience related to financial planning, pass the CFP exam and adhere to a strict ethical standard as set by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

It's much more of a practical process and qualification, with client scenarios leading you to produce a report as you would in the real world.

"Lockdown has been a challenge for everyone," Victoria explains, "but we're lucky with Lyndhurst in that we were set up to work from home. I had worked from home in the past now and then.

"Lyndhurst have been an excellent employer in giving us the encouragement to work from home during lockdown.

"While it has been a challenge adjusting to more virtual meetings with clients rather than face-to-face we were lucky that Lyndhurst were geared up for us to achieve that during lockdown.

"It's much more of a practical process and qualification, with client scenarios leading you to produce a report as you would in the real world."

Victoria's advice

So what advice would Victoria give to anyone in the industry considering studying for the qualification, knowing what she knows now.

"My advice to someone considering doing what I did?" she analyses, before replying: "I think I underestimated how hard a coursework based assessment would be rather than an exam based assessment. It was a lot more of a challenge than I thought it would be - but worth it."

Everyone at Lyndhurst has been delighted by Victoria's achievements. "My colleagues were pleased that I'd done it and pleased for me," she shares, modestly adding: "They didn't know I'd taken it on during lockdown. I was doing it in the background.

"Lyndhurst are hugely supportive of employees learning and gaining qualifications.

"Everybody from reception to paraplanners to advisers are always encouraged to continue with their learning to constantly grow - and Lyndhurst are keen for people to do that."

Victoria looks to the summer

What comes next for Lyndhurst's successful CFP?

Not unsurprisingly, after such an intense year, Victoria is looking to take a short break from further study.

Like many of us, Victoria is hoping for a relaxing 'staycation' as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, with trips planned to Cornwall as well as the north Norfolk coast.

Victoria says: "There is always more to do, but I think I'll give myself a little break from study, focus on my clients and have a bit of a balance again.

"I have always liked learning and continued to learn because there's always more to do and more to understand. I like that challenge and I like that ability to keep growing and understanding.

"But, yes," she explains, "we are looking forward to holidays over the summer."

Victoria, who went travelling for a year after university, taking in a diverse mix of continents

and experiences, including, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and America, is lookng forward to holidaying in the UK this summer.

"Hopefully with restrictions allowing, we can have a nice break with friends in Cornwall and north Norfolk." Loking forward to her well-earned trips, she says: "There's such a contrast between the two areas."

"The beautiful little coves of Cornwall and the large expanses of north Norfolk beaches in places such as Holkham adding, "My husband George is pleased I'm around more again now. I think we're all a little relieved it's over, but he's proud of my achievement."

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If you would like help in securing your financial future call Lyndhurst on 01582 715777.

For more information visit Lyndhurst Financial Management here.