Becoming a partner is a pivotal moment in anyone’s career. It’s not the kind of opportunity that will just land in your lap. It will only come after many years of hard work and dedication – and it’s not unusual for this landmark moment to take 15 or 20 years to come to fruition.

Of course, being a partner is a huge achievement and something to be celebrated. But it also comes with a hefty package of new day-to-day responsibilities that can eat into your time. And if you’re not careful, cloud your longer-term goals.

At Citywide, we’ve worked with many partners over the years. It has let us see first-hand how it’s possible to get the most out of your career, while still being ready to gracefully dismount and enjoy the next stage of life when the time is right.

So we’ve taken everything we’ve learnt and pulled it all together into one simple guide, The 7 Financial Habits of Successful Professional Partners. Here’s a little taste of what it includes:

The 7 Financial Habits of Successful Professional Partners

1. They keep their perspective

As Sir Paul McCartney once said, “It’s like if you’re an astronaut and you’ve been to the moon, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?” Becoming a partner is a golden opportunity, not the golden handcuffs. What’s important, is to understand how to use this opportunity to further your life goals and ambitions, rather than have it become the main focus in itself.

2. They’re good at delegating

On the road to becoming a partner, you’re likely to have spent at least some of your time managing others. That means learning the art of delegation – and the great thing is, it’s a transferable skill. So just as you’d delegate work to the people best equipped to carry it out, so you should approach financial planning as something to trust the experts with.

3. They’re clear about their goals

It’s definitely worth reminding you that there are work goals and then there are life goals. Over the course of your career, they may converge to some degree – the promotion comes with a rise in salary that makes it possible to do the things you want to do. But the mistake is to believe that what you want to do with your career, and what you want from life are the same thing. They’re not.

4. They seek out those who share their values

A partner is someone who works with you throughout your life to help you achieve the things you want to achieve. To support you through the more difficult times and to celebrate your successes with you. Our key values include listening, understanding your needs, thinking long-term, being open and transparent at all times and building solid foundations that allow the ambitions you hold to become a reality.

5. They think holistically

In some business circles, the word ‘holistic’ has become something of a buzzword – that’s a shame because it’s actually really important. When you’re planning for your future you have to factor in everything, and it’s the same with financial planning. You need to have a high-level appreciation of your full financial background and circumstances as well as knowing the intrinsic detail of the ebb and flow of your finances.

6. They keep in mind those closest to them

While some of your goals will centre on things like travel, property or possessions, there’ll be plenty that focus on being able to assist loved ones through key stages of their lives. That could be putting them through university, paying for their wedding, giving them a leg-up onto the property ladder or even literally investing in them as they put together their own business venture.

7. They allow themselves to listen and learn

You don’t need to figure out everything for yourself or deal with increased responsibilities on your own. It’s a sensible move to draw on the expertise of others who can help you view new demands with new eyes. We work with clients who function at the very apex of their profession and there’s always a mutual respect for one another’s expertise. You’re the industry expert in what you do, and we’re the experts in what we do.

If you’ve enjoyed reading these excerpts, please feel free to download your own copy of the complete guide, The 7 Financial Habits of Successful Professional Partners. Or if you’d like to know more about how we work with partners, give us a call on 01372 365950.