Baggette + Co. Wealth Management has officially launched its Financial Adviser Development Academy, reinforcing its long-term commitment to reshaping how talent enters the financial planning profession across Dorset, Hampshire and the South Coast.
The Academy has been created to provide a clear, credible and fully supported pathway into independent financial advice. It offers ambitious individuals the opportunity to build a long-term career in financial planning through a structured programme that blends paid employment with professional study.
This initiative reflects the firm’s strategic investment in the future of the profession and its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in independent wealth management.
Changing the Status Quo in Financial Planning
The Financial Adviser Development Academy is not a short-term training scheme. It is a structured development pathway designed to open access to financial planning for talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
Delivered in partnership with an external training provider and aligned with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualification framework, the programme combines professional study with real-world, client-facing experience. Trainees work four days per week within the business and dedicate one day to structured study, gaining exposure across Client Services, Paraplanning and the Financial Adviser team.
Over the course of the programme, participants work towards the Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and develop the technical knowledge, ethical grounding and client understanding required to operate as Independent Financial Advisers.
Jo Hjalmas, Managing Director of Baggette + Co. Wealth Management, commented:
“The profession has to modernise. We want to provide a genuine alternative entry route into independent financial advice — one that is structured, transparent and built around long-term progression.”
“The Academy allows us to invest properly in people from day one. It’s about creating confident, capable advisers who truly understand our values of independence, transparency and client-first financial planning.”
A Long-Term Commitment to Professional Development
Importantly, once individuals successfully complete the programme and move into a full-time advisory role within the firm, Baggette + Co. provides ongoing support for further professional qualifications — including Chartered status and any additional specialist study they wish to pursue.
This commitment reflects the firm’s belief that financial advisers should never remain stagnant. Continuous professional development ensures advisers remain current, technically strong and able to provide clients with the most personalised, relevant and high-quality financial advice possible.
Oscar Hjalmas, CEO, added:
“We do not see qualification as a finish line. It is the foundation. Once Academy graduates join our adviser team permanently, we actively support them in pursuing Chartered status and further advanced qualifications. That culture of continual learning benefits our advisers, our firm and — most importantly — our clients.“
Chloe Blackmore: The First Academy Participant
Chloe Blackmore joined the Financial Adviser Development Academy last year and has played an integral role in shaping its development, marking an important milestone for the firm.
Reflecting on her experience so far, Chloe said:
“What stood out to me immediately was how clear and structured the pathway is. I always know what I’m working towards, and I can see how each stage builds towards becoming a financial adviser. It doesn’t feel like just a training scheme — it feels like I’m genuinely part of the business. Knowing that there’s long-term support even beyond the Academy, including help to progress further and keep learning, makes it incredibly motivating.“
Chloe’s journey highlights the firm’s broader mission: to make financial planning a visible, accessible and rewarding career path for the next generation.
Investing in the Future of Independent Advice
Founded in Poole in 1986 and strengthened following its 2023 management buyout, Baggette + Co. Wealth Management now employs 25 professionals and is widely regarded as one of the leading independent financial advisory firms across Dorset and Hampshire.
The launch of The Financial Adviser Development Academy forms part of a sustained period of strategic growth, ensuring that the firm continues to deliver personalised financial planning, wealth management and retirement advice to clients across Poole, Bournemouth, Dorset and beyond.
Application Details
The application window for The Financial Adviser Development Academy runs from the 9th February 2026 to the 6th March 2026. An applicant assessment day will take place on the 18th April 2026, with the programme commencing in June 2026.
Applicants can apply via the Academy webpage on the Baggette + Co. Wealth Management website.
