Financial planners who view their work as a calling – what it means, how it develops and why it becomes a double-edged sword.

How can we overcome the drudgery of work? To answer this, research findings have pointed to viewing one’s work as a calling, i.e., finding the meaning and purpose in work, which allows people to enjoy greater job satisfaction and well-being. However, we do not completely understand why some people have a calling while others do not. Moreover, prior studies have ignored how non-Western cultural values influence this experience. This thesis sheds light on those questions by examining financial planners who used to view work merely for financial reasons, then go on to experience fulfillment and purpose, and subsequently a calling at work.