The Honest Truth: You're Not Too Old
I started training estate planners in 2018. Here's what I've learned about age and success:
The best estate planners are usually over 40.
Not because older = better. But because estate planning is fundamentally about helping people navigate life's biggest transitions: death, inheritance, family conflict, care costs, capacity loss.
Clients want someone who's lived. Someone who's dealt with aging parents, complicated families, financial pressure. Someone who doesn't flinch when discussing death.
A 23-year-old fresh out of university can learn the law. But when a 68-year-old widow asks, "How do I protect my home from care costs while making sure my kids are treated fairly?"—she wants advice from someone who understands the weight of that question.
That's you.
Why Over-40s Often Succeed in Estate Planning
Here are the genuine advantages mature career changers bring:
1. Life Experience = Instant Credibility
Estate planning clients are typically 50-80 years old. They want to work with someone in their life stage.
When you're 45-65, you're their peer. You've probably:
- Dealt with aging parents (or their deaths)
- Navigated family dynamics and inheritance issues firsthand
- Managed your own finances through different life stages
- Thought seriously about your own mortality
- Experienced divorce, remarriage, or blended families (many of you)
This isn't just "nice to have"—it's your competitive advantage. Clients trust you instantly because you've walked similar paths.
2. Professional Maturity
You know how to show up on time, communicate professionally, follow through on commitments, and manage client expectations.
These sound basic, but many younger career changers struggle with them. You don't. You've been in the workforce for 20+ years—you know how to operate.
3. Existing Networks
You have connections younger people don't:
- Professional contacts from your previous career (potential referral partners or clients)
- Social networks built over decades (friends, neighbors, community groups)
- Reputation and trust in your local area
Your first 10-20 clients will likely come from people who already know and trust you. That's invaluable.
4. Financial Stability (For Many)
Not everyone over 40 has savings, but many do. If you have:
- 6-12 months of expenses saved
- A working partner
- Paid-off mortgage or low housing costs
- Redundancy payment from previous role
...you can build your estate planning business without the desperation of needing £3,000/month immediately. You can grow sustainably, which produces better long-term outcomes.
5. Comfort with Difficult Conversations
Estate planning involves discussing death, family conflict, money, and capacity loss. These are uncomfortable topics.
At 25, most people get awkward. At 50, you've had enough hard conversations in life that these don't rattle you. Clients sense that calm—it makes them feel safe.
Real Example:
Margaret joined our training at 58 after 30 years in HR. She worried she was "too old" and "not tech-savvy enough." Within 8 weeks she had 6 paying clients—all referrals from former colleagues who trusted her judgment and people skills. Her age wasn't a barrier; it was her entire value proposition.
The Real Challenges (And How to Address Them)
I want to be honest about challenges you might face. None are insurmountable, but you should know what you're getting into.
Challenge 1: Self-Employment Mindset Shift
If you've spent 20-30 years employed, switching to self-employment is a mental adjustment.
There's no:
- Guaranteed monthly salary
- Annual leave or sick pay
- Manager telling you what to do
- Employer pension contributions
- Office structure or colleagues
You're building a business. That means:
- Income varies month to month
- You have to market yourself (no one else will do it)
- You work when you choose—and that requires discipline
- You're responsible for your own tax, insurance, systems
How to address it: Go in with eyes open. Estate planning isn't a "job"—it's a business. If you want employment security, this isn't the path. If you want control and flexibility, it's perfect.
Challenge 2: Technology Learning Curve
Estate planning uses software (Willo, Octopus, etc.), email, Zoom consultations, online document signing, digital marketing.
If you're not comfortable with technology, there's a learning curve.
How to address it: Good training teaches the software step-by-step. Willo is actually easier than Microsoft Word—it's designed for non-technical users. Most students over 60 master it within 2 weeks. If you can send emails and use a smartphone, you can handle estate planning software.
Challenge 3: Energy Levels and Work Pace
Building a business from scratch requires energy. Marketing, client meetings, admin, learning—it's a lot.
At 55, you might not have the same physical stamina as 30.
How to address it: Estate planning is actually perfect for this because you control your pace. Take 2 client meetings a week instead of 5. Build part-time income (£1,000-2,000/month) instead of rushing to full-time. Work mornings when you're fresh, not evenings. The flexibility is the point.
Challenge 4: Fewer Years to Build Wealth
If you're 50 and switching careers, you have 15-17 years until traditional retirement age (if you even want to retire).
That's less time than someone starting at 30.
How to address it: Estate planning income can start within 3-6 weeks of completing training. You're not climbing a 20-year corporate ladder. Year 1 income is modest (£5k-15k part-time), but by Year 3 many students earn £30k-50k working part-time hours. That's meaningful income for retirement savings, especially if you work into your 60s or 70s (many estate planners do, because it's enjoyable and flexible).
Challenge 5: Impostor Syndrome
Many over-40 career changers worry: "Who am I to give legal advice? I'm not a solicitor. I just learned this 6 weeks ago."
How to address it: You're not giving legal advice—you're offering estate planning services within a clear scope. Solicitors train for 5-7 years to handle contentious probate, complex tax schemes, court work. You're helping families with straightforward wills, trusts, and LPAs. Totally different scope. After 6-8 weeks of training + your first 5 clients, you'll know more about practical estate planning than 95% of the population. Trust your competence.
What Success Looks Like for Over-40 Career Changers
Forget the "earn £100k in 6 months" nonsense. Here's what realistic success looks like:
Realistic Income Timeline (Part-Time Effort)
Months 1-3:
Learning, practicing, first 3-10 clients from friends/family/colleagues
Income: £1,000-3,000 total
Months 4-6:
Referrals starting, local marketing working, building reputation
Income: £500-1,500/month
Months 7-12:
Steady stream of clients, referral network established
Income: £1,000-2,500/month
Year 2:
Reputation solid, repeat business, financial advisor partnerships
Income: £1,500-3,500/month (£18k-42k annually)
Year 3+:
Sustainable business, referrals generate most clients, work 15-25 hours/week
Income: £2,500-4,500/month (£30k-54k annually part-time)
This is part-time work (15-25 hours per week). Full-time estate planners can earn £50k-80k+, but most over-40 career changers don't want full-time—they want flexibility and meaningful work.
Real Stories: Career Changers Over 40 Who Made It Work
Sarah, 52 – Former Teacher
Left teaching after 28 years, burned out. Completed estate planning training in 7 weeks. Used connections from school parents community to get first 8 clients. Now earns £2,200/month working 3 days a week, mostly from referrals.
"I wish I'd done this 10 years ago. It's everything teaching wasn't—respected, well-paid, flexible, and I actually help people without being exhausted."
David, 61 – Former Accountant
Took voluntary redundancy at 60, didn't want to fully retire. Estate planning appealed because it used his financial knowledge but was less technical. Built relationships with 4 local financial advisors who now refer 80% of his clients. Earns £3,500/month working mornings only.
"My accounting background helps me explain inheritance tax in plain English. Clients love that I'm older—they trust I've seen enough to know what I'm talking about."
Linda, 47 – Former Retail Manager
Wanted out of retail's long hours and low pay. Estate planning training took 6 weeks while she was still working. Quit retail after landing 5 clients. Now earns more in 20 hours/week than she did in 45 hours managing a shop.
"I was terrified I was too old to learn something new. Turns out my customer service skills and life experience were exactly what clients wanted."
Robert, 68 – Semi-Retired Engineer
Retired from engineering at 65, got bored. Wanted something mentally engaging but not physically demanding. Takes 2-3 clients per month, earns £800-1,200/month for 10 hours of work. Enjoys it so much he plans to continue into his 70s.
"My wife jokes that I'm more energized now than when I retired. I love helping people, and the work keeps my brain active. Age has never been an issue—if anything, clients prefer someone older."
Is Estate Planning Training Hard to Learn at 40+?
Honest answer: It's not harder. It's just different from what you're used to.
The curriculum isn't complex:
- Wills law – logical, rule-based (easier than GCSE maths)
- Trusts – conceptual, but explained clearly they make sense
- LPAs – mostly procedural (follow the steps correctly)
- Software – designed for non-technical users, simpler than Microsoft Word
- Client skills – you already have these from 20+ years of work
Most students over 40 complete training faster than younger students because:
- You've learned complex subjects before (school, professional qualifications, job training)
- You have study discipline from decades of work
- You understand why you're learning (motivation matters)
- Life experience helps concepts click faster
The one thing that takes adjustment: learning digitally if you're not used to online courses. But our training includes support precisely for this—monthly groups where you can ask questions, email help, step-by-step video guides.
Practical Considerations for Over-40 Career Changers
Time Commitment During Training
Training takes 6-8 weeks at 10-15 hours per week. That's:
- 2 hours on weekday evenings (3-4 nights/week)
- 3-5 hours on weekends
Most people study while still employed, using evenings and weekends.
Financial Investment
- Training: £995 (our course; others range £300-3,000)
- Insurance: £150-300/year (professional indemnity)
- Software: £30-50/month after free months (we include 2 months free)
- Marketing: £0-500 to start (Google My Business is free, website optional)
Total startup cost: £1,100-1,800
Compare that to retraining as a solicitor (£30k+ and 5-7 years) or accountant (£10k+ and 3-4 years). Estate planning is remarkably affordable.
Work-Life Balance
Estate planning is one of the most flexible careers because:
- You control your schedule (client meetings when you want them)
- Most work is remote (Zoom consultations, no commute)
- No evening or weekend requirements (unless you choose them)
- Take holidays whenever (block your calendar, no one to ask permission)
- Scale up or down based on your needs (take 10 clients/month or 2/month)
Many over-50 students specifically choose estate planning for this flexibility after decades of rigid employment.
Common Questions from Over-40 Career Changers
Am I too old to learn new technology?
If you can use email, online banking, and a smartphone, you can use estate planning software. Willo is actually simpler than most banking apps. We've trained people in their 70s successfully. Age isn't the barrier—willingness to learn is.
Will clients take me seriously without a legal background?
Yes. Clients don't ask about your previous career—they care that you're knowledgeable, professional, and trustworthy. Your maturity and life experience actually inspire more confidence than a law degree. After training, you'll know more about practical estate planning than most solicitors (who rarely do this work).
Can I do this part-time alongside my current job?
Yes. Many students keep their job while training (evenings/weekends) and taking first clients. Once you're earning £1,000-2,000/month from estate planning (typically months 3-6), you can decide whether to go full-time or keep it as a side income.
Is there an upper age limit for this career?
No. We've trained people in their early 70s who are still actively working. Estate planning isn't physically demanding—it's consulting work. As long as you're mentally sharp and can communicate clearly, there's no reason to stop. Many estate planners work into their 70s because it's enjoyable and flexible.
What if I don't have existing networks or contacts?
You have more networks than you think: neighbors, former colleagues, parents from your kids' schools, sports clubs, community groups, church/mosque/temple, volunteer organizations. Your first clients come from people who already trust you. Even if you're starting from zero, local marketing (Google My Business, community events, retirement seminars) works—it just takes 3-6 months instead of 3-6 weeks.
Should I wait until I retire to do this?
No—start now while you still have employment income as a safety net. Build your estate planning business part-time (£1k-2k/month), then when you retire, you already have a client base and income stream. Waiting means starting from zero with no financial cushion.
What about pension implications of going self-employed?
You'll lose employer pension contributions if you leave employment, but you can set up your own pension and contribute from estate planning income. Many over-50 career changers work part-time (keeping some pension from current job) while building estate planning income. Speak to a financial advisor about your specific situation—we're estate planners, not pension advisors.
Ready to Start Your Second Career?
Join hundreds of over-40 career changers who've built successful estate planning practices. Our training is designed for mature learners with step-by-step guidance, ongoing support, and marketing help.
£995 • 6-8 weeks • Part-time study • 2 months free software • Monthly support groups
View Full Course Details →The Bottom Line for Over-40 Career Changers
You're not too old. You're actually in the sweet spot.
Estate planning values exactly what you bring:
- Life experience and credibility
- Professional maturity
- Existing networks and relationships
- Comfort with difficult conversations
- Desire for meaningful, flexible work
The challenges are real but manageable:
- Self-employment requires discipline (but you've worked for decades—you have discipline)
- Technology has a learning curve (but software is designed to be simple)
- Building a business takes energy (but you control the pace)
- Fewer years to build wealth (but income starts in weeks, not years)
Success looks like:
- £1,500-3,500/month working part-time by year 2
- Flexible schedule you control
- Meaningful work helping families
- Respect and trust from clients
- A career you can continue into your 70s if you choose
Most of our successful students are 45-65. They're not succeeding despite their age—they're succeeding because of it.
The question isn't "Am I too old?"
The question is "Am I ready to build something for myself?"
If the answer is yes, you're exactly the right age.
Want to learn more? Read our guide on how long estate planning training takes or see what's covered in the curriculum.