WM - Am I making the most of my degree/experience?

Hi guys,

Recently graduated with a degree in Economics from a semi-target UK university. Landed my first job as a Paraplanner at a St. James Place Wealth Management practice and expect to work up to being a financial adviser (level 4 diploma). At that point I would likely stay in that role for a couple more years then jump over to a bank wm division (if possible). Even further down the line I would love to get TEP designated and play in the big leagues.

My gut feeling is that I could have done better in my job search and gotten a more prestigious role or effective position somewhere else with the experience I have. Something that would have helped get to where I want to be quicker. I won't post my whole CV but these are some of the highlights:

• Internship and extended role at boutique Financial Management Consulting firm as Research Analyst.

• BSc (Hons) 2.1 in Econ with lots of finance (derivatives, financial modelling, corpfin, econometrics, etc.).

• President of very large university economics society (+lots of achievements within role).

• Lots of extracurricular achievements, e.g. Bloomberg Market Concepts, Uni employability credentials, and previous internships and jobs (outside of finance).

I'm sold on wanting to work in wealth management, and despite still being quite young (21) - I can't help to think that I'm over-qualified or at least being understimulated in the role I'm currently in, which is almost entirely administrative. Would I have been better off going corporate and working in a Bank's WM division? Or am I generally too young for that?

Would appreciate input from someone in the field on this career path, particularly on what you guys did at my age before getting in to wealth management. I hear many start in accounting roles first, is that a better route? Or will I be just fine with the path I'm taking now.