A career as a financial professional can be very rewarding. You can help people achieve their financial goals, and—if you do it right—have a lot of personal freedom and financial security yourself. Here are 7 steps to building a great career in the financial sector.
- Affiliate with the “right” firm.
Find the right company to grow your career as a financial professional. Consider the firm’s investment philosophies, business model, sales process, products offered, service disciplines, and business culture. Is the firm captive or independent? Do you trust the people? Can you get excited about your future with this firm? If not—keep looking until you find the right fit.
- Get licensed fast.
Your broker-dealer will open exam windows for the Series 7, Series 66 or Series 6, Series 63, and Series 65. Knock these tests out quickly and don’t make them a bigger deal than they need to be. Study hard so you can move into the next phase of your career as a financial professional—building a client base.
- Find a mentor.
Find an experienced mentor who has a successful career as a financial professional to guide you on your journey. Wisdom and experience are needed more often than knowledge in guiding clients towards their financial goals and dreams. Relying on the right mentor can shorten your development process significantly and back-stop your initial lack of experience.
- Master your craft.
Commit to mastering all aspects of your vocation. Always be learning. Always be improving. You don’t have to know everything but you do need to know where to find the answers. Who do you call? What resources are available to you? The most important lessons can only be learned by more doing, not through more knowing.
- Understand your value proposition.
Your value proposition is YOU! Your impact, your advice, and your service can and will make a very real and tangible difference in the lives of the families whom you serve. This assumes you understand how to help families reach their goals and have access to competitive products and services. If you don’t—see #1 of this list.
- Work hard—talk to tons of people.
Your successful career as a financial professional hinges almost entirely on your ability to prospect high numbers of potential qualified clients and continue to do so until you have built the practice you envision. If you persist in this endeavor long enough you will ultimately be successful. Prospecting is an activity most aspiring financial professionals avoid and therefore fail. It’s uncomfortable, yes. But it’s the uncomfortable things that usually make you successful.
- Follow through on your commitments.
Honor the commitments you make to your clients. Don’t over-promise and under-deliver or your career as a financial professional will be a short and unfulfilling one. Separate yourself in your career as a financial advisor from the masses of mediocrity by working hard, doing your best, and serving clients with excellence.
Follow these 7 steps and you’ll be on a solid path to a great career as a financial professional.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonathan Miller, President & CEO or Parsonex, is an accomplished financial professional and entrepreneur. He has managed over $200 million in client assets, trained hundreds of financial professionals and built several successful companies.
Parsonex Enterprises, Inc. is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado and owns several companies including two FINRA registered broker dealers, an SEC registered investment professional, an insurance agency and a franchise company. The firm has 9 branch offices and over 60 independent financial professionals across the United States, including five franchise locations.
Securities offered through Parsonex Securities, Inc. 8310 S. Valley Highway Suite 110, Englewood, CO, 80112 (303) 662-8700 Investment Advisory Services offered through Parsonex Advisory Services, Inc.
