When I first joined Berry & Oak as a financial planning intern, I had no idea what to expect. I knew they had a fantastic reputation and a shelf full of awards, but I had no clue just how much I would learn or how much fun I would have along the way! Now, looking back, I can confidently say this experience has been nothing short of amazing, giving me skills, confidence, and memories I’ll carry forward in my career forever.

Walking into a new workplace is always a little nerve-wracking, but from day one, the team made me feel completely at home. No question was too small or too big, and everyone was more than happy to share their knowledge. I was soon given key responsibilities like onboarding new clients, and tracking their progress to ensure their sign-up was as simple as possible. I even dived into creating periodic suitability reports, completing fund switches, and making letters of authority for client plans—things that once sounded complicated but quickly became second nature.

One of the biggest learning curves was getting to grips with financial planning itself. At first all the jargon – like cash flow modelling, investment strategies, and tax planning – felt like a foreign language. Sitting in on meetings and working with real data helped everything click into place. I learned how financial plans are tailored to individual needs and how small adjustments can make huge impacts on an individual’s financial future. It was eye opening to see how much thought and care Berry & Oak put into ensuring our clients feel financially secure. Beyond learning the technical side of financial planning, I developed some crucial life skills. My organisation skills have levelled up massively—I’ve learned how to juggle multiple tasks, plan my weeks effectively, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Speaking with clients and professionals has helped me become a much better communicator, something that will be invaluable both at university and in my future career.

One of the best parts of this internship was seeing how financial planning truly changes lives. I sat in on client meetings and watched the advisors work their magic, helping people realise they can afford that dream holiday or retire earlier than they thought. Seeing their relief and excitement was incredibly rewarding and reinforced just how important this industry is.

Of course, there were challenges too. Adjusting from university life to a full-time job was a big shift and learning so many new concepts at once felt overwhelming at times. But the team was so understanding and supportive it meant even the tough moments were manageable. If I could give any advice to future interns, it would be this: say yes to every opportunity, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to get stuck in! Financial planning might sound intimidating at first, but once you start learning, everything falls into place. Oh, and maybe brush up on some key financial terms before starting—it would have saved me a lot of head-scratching in the first few weeks!

This internship has confirmed that finance is 100% where I want to be. I’m leaving Berry & Oak with so much more knowledge, motivation, and a real excitement for the future. I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!

From the Team at Berry & Oak

We loved reading this wonderful reflection on your internship experience – thank you for sharing it so openly and honestly!

From day one, you embraced every opportunity with positivity, asked great questions, and made a real impact within the team. It’s been a pleasure to see your confidence and understanding of financial planning grow – and we’re so proud of the progress you’ve made.

At Berry & Oak, we’re passionate about helping the next generation of financial planners gain real-world experience in a supportive and inspiring environment. Your blog perfectly captures what we aim to offer – hands-on learning, meaningful client work, and a warm, welcoming team.

We’ve no doubt you’ll go on to do great things in the world of finance, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next.

Thank you for being such a fantastic part of Berry & Oak – and remember, you’re always welcome back!