Hire or outsource paraplanning?

At some point, most advisers hit the stage where the work is there, but capacity is tight. Cases take longer, report writing eats the week, and there's less time for clients. Then the question comes up: do you hire someone, or outsource?

Both work, here's how they compare:

Hiring tends to make sense when your workload is steady and high, you want someone fully part of your team, and you're comfortable with a long-term commitment.

Outsourcing tends to make sense when your workload is growing but unpredictable, you're not ready for a full-time hire, or you'd rather not take on managing someone.

It doesn't have to be either/or. Plenty of firms start by outsourcing to take the pressure off, then hire later. Plenty keep outsourcing because it works.

Hiring in-houseOutsourcing
FitSomeone fully embedded who knows your clients and how you workFlexible support that fits around how you already work
CostSalary and ongoing costs, whatever the workloadPay for the work you send, or a monthly retainer
Time to startRecruiting and onboardingMuch shorter, subject to availability
FlexibilityHarder to adjust if your workload dipsScale up or down as you need
ManagementYou manage themNo extra team member to manage

	Hiring in-house	Outsourcing
Fit	Someone fully embedded who knows your clients and how you work	Flexible support that fits around how you already work
Cost	Salary and ongoing costs, whatever the workload	Pay for the work you send, or a monthly retainer
Time to start	Recruiting and onboarding	Much shorter, subject to availability
Flexibility	Harder to adjust if your workload dips	Scale up or down as you need
Management	You manage them	No extra team member to manage

Black and white photo of people outside a modern building with glass walls, some people are walking and talking, and others are waiting near a window.

What outsourced paraplanning looks like

We handle the technical work behind your advice: research, cashflow modelling and suitability reports, across mortgages, protection, investments and pensions, depending on how you like to work.

You're still the adviser. You make the decisions, shape the recommendations and lead the client relationship. We work behind the scenes.

How it usually starts

Most advisers send over a few cases first, just to see how it fits with their process. After that, some send more as the firm grows, some settle into a steady level, and some only use us when things get busy. Any of those is fine.

Signs it might be time

You're writing more reports than speaking to clients
Cases are taking longer to move through
Your capacity is limiting new business
Your team is leaning heavily on one person

If any of that sounds familiar, it might be worth a chat. We're currently at capacity, but we're always happy to talk through what would suit your firm and let you know when we have space.