Rising Stars of Financial Planning: Introducing Skybound Wealth Academy’s 2025 Cohort

Skybound Wealth is not simply a place to work; it’s a global platform for evolution. The Academy represents our commitment to growing talent from the inside out, embedding our unique DNA, culture, and values from day one. These recruits won’t just shadow advisers. They’ll be embedded in the core of our business, rotating through departments and regions, engaging directly with teams and clients, and building the kind of experience that you can’t find in a classroom.

As someone who began my journey at Skybound as a paraplanner following an internship, I’ve seen the transformative power of opportunity and mentorship. It’s not just about learning technical skills; it’s about developing the kind of leadership and vision that can take you to the top. Today, as part of the Academy, I’m proud to help guide this new generation down the same path.

“The Academy is about setting the standard for what excellence looks like at every level. We’re not just hiring graduates, we’re developing future partners.”
— Josh Watson, Group Head of People

What Sets the Academy Apart?

• 360° Business Immersion
  Rather than exposure to one, or a couple of aspects of financial planning, our graduates rotate across key departments including, Compliance, Marketing, Tech, Admin, Business Development, and Technology. This full-spectrum training ensures they have a comprehensive understanding of how every element of our business works together. It builds better advisers, not just technically, but empathetically, as they gain insight into the collaborative process that drives success.
  
  
• Global Footprint, Global Learning
  With offices spanning Geneva, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, London, and Houston, the Academy offers a rare opportunity for international development. Our cohort will interact with cross-border teams, engage in market-specific scenarios, and develop the cultural fluency needed to serve clients across jurisdictions, a critical edge in today’s interconnected financial world.
  
  
• Mentorship at the Core
  Every graduate is paired with high-performing advisers and experienced leaders who provide continuous feedback and guidance. From day one, they’ll be immersed in live-client interactions, financial planning simulations, and strategic conversations, all designed to build the emotional intelligence, client relationship skills, and long-term maturity needed for success.
  

Why We Built the Academy

Skybound Wealth has evolved, and The Academy is both a reflection and a reinforcement of that transformation. We are no longer just a thriving advisory network; we are a global institution with a clearly defined culture, the highest operational and compliance standards, and a bold vision for the future of financial advice. The Academy helps us pass that vision on, ensuring that those who grow within our firm are not only competent professionals, but true ambassadors of what we stand for.

What Tomorrow’s Advisers Need to Be

The Academy isn’t just preparing graduates for today, it’s sculpting the professionals the future will demand. In a world where AI and automation are rapidly reshaping how we deliver financial advice, the next generation of advisers must evolve. Not by competing with technology, but by collaborating with it. We believe the future belongs to advisers who harness AI for sharper insights, faster analysis, and enhanced personalisation, while doubling down on the one thing AI can’t replicate: human understanding.

Tomorrow’s advisers must be more than product experts. They must be multi-disciplinary thinkers, strategists who understand how investment, compliance, tax, and tech all come together. They need to see the bigger picture and adapt their approach to the unique challenges of a client’s ever-changing life. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of cross-border financial planning, addressing tax implications across jurisdictions, or managing a portfolio in a volatile global market, they must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to pivot as clients’ needs evolve. They must be globally fluent, able to guide clients through the intricacies of international living, ensuring that every decision is both strategic and deeply personal. And above all, they must be exceptional communicators able to cut through complexity, translate uncertainty into clarity, and connect with people in a way that builds trust.

The Voices of the First Cohort

“At Skybound, hard work is the number one currency. Already, I can see that the strong team ethos in the office is a result of everyone pushing each other to greater heights.”
— Rudy Brown, Graduate Adviser

“The fast growth and structured training really appealed to me. I’m excited for the international travel and to build trust with clients from around the world.”
— Matthew Ellis, Graduate Adviser

Their early enthusiasm, ambition, and commitment are already helping to shape what this inaugural year will look like, and we’re just getting started.

The Road Ahead

Over the next 18 months, our Academy cohort will take on real-life scenarios, collaborate across regions, receive structured coaching from senior advisers, and contribute directly to Skybound’s mission. They’re not here to observe from the side lines, they’re here to engage, to deliver, and to grow. And the training doesn’t stop there. Continuous development and mentorship will remain a key part of their journey, ensuring they not only meet the current needs of clients but are also prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow’s financial landscape.

As our global presence continues to scale, so too does our responsibility to shape the future of financial planning. The Academy is a cornerstone of that mission, ensuring that Skybound doesn’t just employ exceptional advisers, but creates them.

This is just the beginning, and the future has never looked brighter.