Honest analysis of demand, earnings, lifestyle, and whether estate planning is right for you.
Yes, IF you want:
But NOT if you need:
Estate planning is an excellent career for people seeking meaningful, flexible work with good income potential and low barriers to entry. It's particularly suited to career changers, parents wanting flexible hours, and people seeking entrepreneurship without massive risk or investment.
Overall verdict on job security: Good to excellent. Demand is structural and long-term. While competition exists, the market is large enough for many practitioners. Success depends more on marketing effectiveness than market size.
Estate planning offers good to excellent earning potential, especially for self-employed practitioners:
First year is about establishing your practice. Most new planners earn £10K-£25K while building client base and reputation. Many keep day jobs during this period.
Referrals increase, marketing improves. 5-10 clients monthly is typical. Part-time practitioners earning £25K-£35K, full-time £35K-£50K.
Strong reputation, consistent referrals. 10-15 clients monthly. Good income with predictable flow.
Premium pricing, 15-20+ clients monthly, potential to expand team or add revenue streams. Top performers exceed £150K.
For detailed salary breakdown, see our Estate Planner Salary Guide →
Train in 2-8 weeks for £300-£2,000. No law degree needed. Start practicing almost immediately. Perfect for career changers who can't afford years of retraining.
Work part-time or full-time. Choose your hours (clients often prefer evenings/weekends anyway). Work from home, offer home visits, or use serviced offices. Ideal for parents, semi-retirees, or those wanting work-life balance.
Help families protect loved ones, provide peace of mind, prevent family disputes. Most clients are genuinely grateful for your help. Makes a real difference to people's lives.
£60K-£120K+ once established (self-employed). Higher than many professions, achievable without a degree. Part-time still earns £27K-£54K - excellent for flexible workers.
£1,300-£2,200 total to start (training + insurance + basic marketing). No stock, no premises required, minimal ongoing costs. Low risk compared to most businesses.
Aging population ensures long-term demand. 60% of adults still don't have wills. Market growing, not shrinking.
People still need wills during economic downturns. Death and aging don't stop. More resilient than many industries.
Build long-term relationships with clients and families. Referrals become main business source. Satisfying to become trusted advisor.
Suits all ages 25-65+. Mature practitioners often preferred by elderly clients. Perfect for 50+ career changers.
Build your own business without massive risk. Control your income, hours, and work style. Scale up by hiring others if desired.
Takes 3-6 months to get first clients, 12-18 months to build sustainable income. Year 1 earnings typically £10K-£25K. Requires patience and financial runway.
Some months busy, others quiet. Feast and famine cycle common. Requires financial discipline and budgeting. Not suitable if you need guaranteed monthly salary.
Self-employed planners must generate own leads. Marketing, networking, Google presence essential. Clients don't just appear - you must actively find them.
Dealing with death, illness, family conflict, grief. Some clients very emotional. Requires empathy but emotional resilience. Can be draining.
Many wills are similar. Process can become routine. Not suitable if you need constant intellectual challenge or variety.
Low barriers to entry mean more competitors. Solicitors, online services, other estate planners all competing. Must differentiate yourself.
Not as prestigious as "solicitor" or "lawyer." Some people don't understand the role. If status matters to you, this may frustrate.
Client appointments often evenings/weekends (when they're free). Great for flexibility, but means working when others don't.
Can be lonely working alone from home. No colleagues, no office chat. Need to actively build social connections outside work.
Mistakes can have serious consequences for families. Professional indemnity insurance essential. Must maintain high standards and ongoing learning.
⚖️ Weighing Pros vs Cons
For most people, the pros significantly outweigh the cons - especially if you value flexibility, meaningful work, and entrepreneurship. The cons are manageable if you have realistic expectations and good planning. The slow first year is the biggest hurdle for most.
🤔 Self-Assessment Questions
Ask yourself: Can I handle 6-12 months of low income while building? Am I comfortable marketing myself? Do I have empathy for people dealing with death/illness? Am I detail-oriented and responsible? Do I want flexibility more than guaranteed income? If yes to all, estate planning could be excellent for you.
Here's the honest timeline of what building an estate planning career looks like:
Focus: Getting established
Typical income: £0-£2,000
Focus: Building confidence and systems
Typical income: £3,000-£6,000
Focus: Scaling up client flow
Typical income: £7,000-£17,000
Year 1 total: £10,000-£25,000
Focus: Consistency and quality
Year 2 income: £25,000-£50,000
Focus: Optimization and growth
Year 3 income: £45,000-£80,000
💡 Reality Check
These timelines assume consistent marketing effort and professional service delivery. Some grow faster (existing networks, aggressive marketing), others slower (limited time, competitive areas, poor marketing). Your effort and strategy directly impact your timeline.
Estate planning offers multiple paths for career development:
Yes, very stable. Death and aging are constants. The UK's aging population (12M+ over 65, growing to 15M+ by 2030) ensures long-term demand. 60% of adults still don't have wills. This is a structural, growing market, not a fad.
Unlikely. Estate planning requires personal consultation, empathy, understanding family dynamics, and judgment - all difficult to automate. Technology (like software) makes estate planners more efficient, not obsolete. The human element is essential for complex or sensitive situations.
Yes, absolutely. Self-employed estate planners serving 15-20 clients monthly at £500 average earn £90K-£120K annually. Top performers with premium pricing (£600-£800 average) serving 20+ clients exceed £150K. Takes 4-7 years typically to reach this level.
No! Estate planning is perfect for mature career changers. Many clients actually prefer mature estate planners (life experience, credibility). You can train in weeks and practice until 70+. Some of the most successful estate planners started in their 50s.
You need to be willing to market yourself, but it's not high-pressure sales. Estate planning is consultative - people seek you out when ready. Marketing is more about visibility (Google, networking, referrals) than aggressive selling. Many introverts succeed through content, partnerships, and referrals.
Excellent, especially self-employed. You control your hours and client load. Many estate planners work 20-30 hours weekly earning £40K-£70K. Appointments often evenings/weekends, but you choose which to accept. Much better work-life balance than solicitor roles or corporate jobs.
vs Teaching: Similar flexibility, better pay (once established). vs Nursing: Less physically demanding, similar helping people, better hours. vs Becoming a Solicitor: Faster entry, lower cost, less prestige, similar earnings potential. vs Corporate jobs: More flexibility, entrepreneurship, meaningful work, but less security initially.
Yes - for the right person.
Estate planning is an excellent career if you:
It's not ideal if you:
Bottom line: Estate planning offers quick entry, low cost, good earning potential, flexibility, and meaningful work in a growing market. The challenges (slow first year, marketing requirement, variable income) are manageable for patient, entrepreneurial people. For career changers 30-65 seeking purpose and income without massive retraining, it's one of the best options available.
Quick entry, meaningful work, excellent earning potential. Get comprehensive training in 2 weeks for £995 - including 2 months free software and help securing your first client.