My Advice to all the Rookies

Jan 26, 2007 6:35 pm

1) Buy 3 nice suits. Do not shop the discount rack at Men's Wearhouse or JC Penney. Make them NICE suits. Brooks Brothers, Armani. The investment will pay off.

2) Get a nice haircut. You are not in college anymore. You actually need to look respectable and shower every day.

3) Lease a nice car even if you can't afford it. You can't drive to a client visit in a 1998 VW Jetta and expect to be taken seriously.

4) Subsrcibe to the Wall Street Journal and read it every day. You might actually learn something and sound like you know something when you talk to clients.

5) Live by this quote: "There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can't. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him?"

Best of luck. Enjoy the ride.

Jan 26, 2007 7:01 pm

Nice post.

And, if you're doingthe low cost, laid back, high payout, branch ownership approach:

1. Wear nice golf clothes.

2. Purchase the nice car, with about 30k miles, write off the interest, mileage.

3. Read the Journal!

4. Watch "Glenngarry Glenross". If you are gonna always be closing, be like Al Pacino, not Jack Lemmon. You can make as much money letting people close you (make them beg for the application), and if it suits your personality, it is a lot more fun.

Jan 26, 2007 8:01 pm

[quote=Seth Davis]

3) Lease a nice car even if you can't afford it. You can't drive to a client visit in a 1998 VW Jetta and expect to be taken seriously.

[/quote]

Don't the newbies have enough pressure without buying something they can't pay for.  What good is a nice car if you can't afford it, have to declare bankruptcy, lose you job because of a BK.

Jan 26, 2007 8:04 pm

Thanks for that post. I am sure all the newbies out there were elated that you blessed them with that kind of knowledge...

Such a nice guy- giving back to the industry and all....

Jan 26, 2007 8:22 pm

   Alright, I will be the first to bite.  Can you be a little more specific on the suit.  exp... 3-piece, 4 button, what style?  What specific cars are suitable for a (newbie) FA to drive up to a client in?  Already got the WSJ thing down.  Oh and nice try taking that quote off of Ben Aflak in Boiler Room, which is a must-see for all new reps.  Oh and.......where do you get your hair cut??

Jan 26, 2007 9:59 pm

I would recommend getting as much education as possible.

If you have MBA, AAMS, CFP, CFA after your name and a good amount AUM already you will be amazed at the size of accounts that will be thrown upon you through word of mouth, networking and referrals. You will also have the immediate expectation of being an expert even to people who love to talk down to everyone (MD’s, Professors).

Jan 26, 2007 10:22 pm

[quote=Seth Davis]

1) Buy 3 nice suits. Do not shop the discount rack at Men's Wearhouse or JC Penney. Make them NICE suits. Brooks Brothers, Armani. The investment will pay off.

2) Get a nice haircut. You are not in college anymore. You actually need to look respectable and shower every day.

3) Lease a nice car even if you can't afford it. You can't drive to a client visit in a 1998 VW Jetta and expect to be taken seriously.

4) Subsrcibe to the Wall Street Journal and read it every day. You might actually learn something and sound like you know something when you talk to clients.

5) Live by this quote: "There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can't. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him?"

Best of luck. Enjoy the ride.

[/quote]

You've been watching a little too much "Boiler Room."

Jan 26, 2007 10:42 pm

Buy a car I can’t afford… I bet you make your clients rich with your brilliant advice

Jan 26, 2007 10:59 pm

Mr. Davis,

I sincerely hope that you are a successful FA, cause if you can make it while spewing that much bad advice, I know I've got a shot. So thank you.

Jan 27, 2007 12:17 am

[quote=WADRED]

   Alright, I will be the first to bite.  Can you be a little more specific on the suit.  exp... 3-piece, 4 button, what style?  ...[/quote]

I find that polyester suits don't wrinkle, plus add a little Scotchguard spray and they'll even repel stains. Just don't get near an open flame.

Jan 27, 2007 12:23 am

What color suit should I buy? I was thinking a purple tweed.



Also, do you think I should cut my dreads?

Jan 27, 2007 1:45 am

Keep the dreads, definitely. In this business you have to differentiate yourself. The Rasta market I am sure is lacking in financial advisors. I would recommend day-glo yellow though.

Jan 27, 2007 6:33 am

[quote=Breaston15]What color suit should I buy? I was thinking a purple tweed.



Also, do you think I should cut my dreads?

[/quote]



Four button, purple gabardine with white pinstrips, side venting, with a contrasting vest, perhaps an orange tartan?


Jan 27, 2007 5:17 pm

I disagree with almost all of the advice given.



About your car:

Your clients should come see you in your office, your a professional, professionals don’t make house calls. I don’t think one of my 600 clients knows what kind of car I drive. If you meet them at their business, lawyers or CPA’s office, park around the corner or show up early if you think it is a client who might not like your camry. That said I would’nt drive a beater but I think the BMW will only impress your friends.



About your suit:

I wouldn’t get the $99 JC Penney special but if you spend $300 at the men’s warehouse and get a great tailor you’re more than fine. Buy nice shoes and keep them shiny. I recommend keeping a pair in the office that never go outside. Shoes believe it or not are very important.



Jan 27, 2007 5:33 pm

[quote=bankrep1]
About your suit:
I wouldn't get the $99 JC Penney special but if you spend $300 at the men's warehouse and get a great tailor you're more than fine.
[/quote]

I'll say it again...Ebay, Armani, $200

Jan 27, 2007 6:02 pm

Prop,



Aren’t the Armani suits on ebay knockoffs, like taking the $99 JC Penney suit and sewing on the Armani brand? I am just asking

Jan 27, 2007 6:13 pm

[quote=bankrep1]Prop,

Aren't the Armani suits on ebay knockoffs, like taking the $99 JC Penney suit and sewing on the Armani brand? I am just asking [/quote]

You do have to be careful, there are a few stores based out of LA that deal in used Armani's that are authentic, you have to be careful though.  It helps if you know the characteristics of the true Armani, knowing that, a knockoff stands out like a sore thumb, good point though I should have clarified you have to do your DD.

Jan 28, 2007 2:03 am

I’ll be the first to admit that Seth’s advice makes him somewhat of a loose cannon, but be as it may, regarding the 1998 Jetta he may be on to something. Sure in this business performance IS everything but speaking on behalf of a recent college grad, perception is the ONLY thing. I’d step it up a tad bit and roll the dice w/an Infiniti or an Audi A6 (mid 30’s, not carried away)… and who cares if you’re overextended??? If a $500 a month car payment is too much pressure, you’re in the wrong game to begin with! If you think I’m nuts, send the rook to prospect in his tinted out Jetta rolling on 20" chrome spinners with a Rutgers window sticker in the back window and see how long he stands on the front porch knocking. He can have all the wisdom in the world at the same time the good doctor who “may” answer tells him to bounce…



Jan 28, 2007 2:18 am

Can we review the companies that actually expect FA’s to knock on doors? EJ and who else? that is demoralizing as hell.

Jan 28, 2007 5:44 am

How about this for advice:

Don't be an FA right after college. Unless you have family that is willing to let you manage their accounts/money. Don't do it! Start out as a sales associate/assistant or a banker than work your way to FA. I was cursed with a baby face (I look like im 20) but my performance as a banker spoke for itself and I have big clients in the multi-million range trusting me with their personal finances and investments.

Jan 28, 2007 5:51 am

to add to what I said: This will also help you financially. Last thing you want to do right after college is screw up your credit by getting a car you can’t afford, suits you can’t buy, and so forth.  Make some money while you learn the business!

Jan 28, 2007 3:06 pm

BankerBuddy raises a great point. But by no means take his suggestions as discouragement.

There are some recent grads I have witnessed make a killing over the years. All had similar attributes which consisted of a burning desire to succeed, VERY good people skills, a natural at understanding financial markets, could build a network effortlessly because people just wanted to be around them and lastly they all really had a VERY high confidence level and swagger that made everyone around them believe that failure has never been on their agenda and never will be.

The question to the potential rookies … is this you? If not? well you can expect a very rocky road ahead attempting to be in this business.

Jan 28, 2007 9:57 pm

Very good advice except for one thing- DO NOT BLOW AN OBSENE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A REDICULOUS CAR!!!

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If your clients have any sophistication, they will see this car as an imprudent waste of money.  Affluent individuals can cut trough bull S—t in a matter of seconds.

The wealthy will choose you because they see potential, knowledge, and competence.    

I think the keys are clarity, confidence, being concise, assertiveness, and over all attitude.        

 

DirtyDelta…   
Jan 28, 2007 10:00 pm

 I challenge anyone on this forum to give me an example of an individual who, at age 27, pulled in 100 mil AUM in only one year..  Pm me their name and where they work..    

 <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

That is a line of S**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 28, 2007 10:58 pm

Maybe it was dad’s and mom’s friend’s money. The clients could all even work for mom and dad, or be vendors.

Jan 29, 2007 2:53 am

Since we are all smart we should know that there are awesome “USED” cars for 10 to 15k. USE YOUR BRAIN and get a car like mine! Build your brand around your life and car.

Jan 29, 2007 3:33 am

[quote=AirForce]Since we are all smart we should know that there are awesome “USED” cars for 10 to 15k. USE YOUR BRAIN and get a car like mine! Build your brand around your life and car.

[/quote]

And what kind of car is yours?

Jan 29, 2007 4:26 am

I don't have any names for you, but it does happen.  It is 100% luck and it comes in the form of rich parents and their company's healthy 401(k) plan.

[quote=DirtyDeltaBro]

 I challenge anyone on this forum to give me an example of an individual who, at age 27, pulled in 100 mil AUM in only one year..  Pm me their name and where they work..    

 <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

That is a line of S**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/quote]
Jan 29, 2007 3:21 pm

VERY FOOLISH advice. WHy dont you give them tips on surviving in the business!

Jan 29, 2007 3:40 pm

I know a guy who works back on the East Coast. He is about 32-33 years old, and pulled in about $85M in his first 6 months. Granted, about $82M of that was from a corporate cash management account. Apparently he went to this prestigious prep school back in the day and was best friends wiht this kid whose dad was the CFO of a large company.  This FA called on the contact and within months he wqas the superstar of the training program.

I met him a couple times. Kid was an idiot who could barely speak in public. Had NO presence to him- but hey.. He was the MAN because he knew someone and got it done...

So it does happen....

Jan 29, 2007 4:09 pm

[quote=AirForce]Since we are all smart we should know that there are awesome "USED" cars for 10 to 15k. USE YOUR BRAIN and get a car like mine! Build your brand around your life and car.
[/quote]

After looking around for 4 months I paid 15k cash for a Porsche Boxster, drove it for a year and "downgraded" to a BMW and got 15k for it on trade in.  Talked them down from 18k to 14k on the BMW so it was a cashless transaction.

I agree if you're patient and can wait for the right deal you can get nice cars for a decent amount.

Jan 29, 2007 4:16 pm

Blarm, it 85MM if you're talking millions, but I understood and so did everyone else I'm sure.  Just want to help you keep that ML image sharp. 

By the way, did he put a fee on that 85MM?  It sounds awesome, but I don't see how having all that cash helped him out unless he could generate some revenue off it.

Jan 29, 2007 4:36 pm

[quote=ExPropTrader]

[quote=AirForce]Since we are all smart we should know that there are awesome “USED” cars for 10 to 15k. USE YOUR BRAIN and get a car like mine! Build your brand around your life and car.
[/quote]

After looking around for 4 months I paid 15k cash for a Porsche Boxster, drove it for a year and "downgraded" to a BMW and got 15k for it on trade in.  Talked them down from 18k to 14k on the BMW so it was a cashless transaction.

I agree if you're patient and can wait for the right deal you can get nice cars for a decent amount.

[/quote]

Nice.  How old was the Boxster?
Jan 29, 2007 4:44 pm

[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=ExPropTrader]

[quote=AirForce]Since we are all smart we should know that there are awesome "USED" cars for 10 to 15k. USE YOUR BRAIN and get a car like mine! Build your brand around your life and car.
[/quote]

After looking around for 4 months I paid 15k cash for a Porsche Boxster, drove it for a year and "downgraded" to a BMW and got 15k for it on trade in.  Talked them down from 18k to 14k on the BMW so it was a cashless transaction.

I agree if you're patient and can wait for the right deal you can get nice cars for a decent amount.

[/quote]

Nice.  How old was the Boxster?
[/quote]

It was a '99 but the guy had changed the head and tail lights so it looked like an '04.  Now that it has warmed back up I'm kickin myself for gettin rid of it.

Jan 29, 2007 4:59 pm

[quote=BankerBuddy]to add to what I said: This will also help you financially. Last thing you want to do right after college is screw up your credit by getting a car you can't afford, suits you can't buy, and so forth.  Make some money while you learn the business! [/quote]

AGREED.  This guy Seth is an idiot.  Yes you need to look nice, but it is YOU they want.  Not the suit or the car.  People who are attracted to those material things will have YOU chasing performance and the latest hot dot.  They are not the clients you want to build your business with.

Jan 29, 2007 6:51 pm

It was a corporate cash management account at around 35BP’s I think. Even at 25 BP’s the account is kicking off about 200K in production- for doing nothing really…

Jan 29, 2007 9:18 pm

Hummer, stretch limo - for those client events.  Although, it’s tough to park when you have to run to wal-mart for a new suit.

Jan 29, 2007 10:10 pm

I live in the mountains. I drive a JEEP. Hummers are a hated up here!

Very few two wheel drive cars up  here!   

Jan 29, 2007 10:27 pm

[quote=Greenbacks]

I live in the mountains. I drive a JEEP. Hummers are a hated up here!

Very few two wheel drive cars up  here!   

[/quote]

Why are hummers hated?
Jan 29, 2007 10:46 pm

You cannot get around them on the Jeep trails! They are too wide.

When you are on cliff you do not want to meet one!  

Also there are a lot of environmentalists or think they are! 

Jan 30, 2007 2:36 am

[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=Greenbacks]

I live in the mountains. I drive a JEEP. Hummers are a hated up here!

Very few two wheel drive cars up  here!   

[/quote]

Why are hummers hated?
[/quote]

Because the people who drive them are pretentious idiots who never or hardly ever take their vehicles off of the pavement.  4x4 for snobs. All show and no go. They want to be country but they will never be anything but urban hypocrites.

Although, I must say, the new H3 seems to be a pretty nice vehicle and I have seen some of those with actual dirt on them. 

Jan 30, 2007 3:06 am

For sure I think a nice car does help. Although confidence can go far if I am going to visit a high end client in their home I do not want to pull up in a avg car. Having the nice car also improves your brand. Spend a bit of time and look at the top of breed cars that last and are reliable.

Jan 30, 2007 9:42 pm

 I understand image and presentation are important when meeting with clients, but over extending yourself is not the right way to go.  Buy an nicer used car and relieve that stress of a big car payment or lease.  As for the fancy designer suit, I think this may be more relevant in materialistic areas like California and New York, in small midwestern and southern towns, designer suits may make the wrong impression, that you are charging too much money.  As for house calls, who makes house calls?  Waste of time, does you doctor come to you?

mooose

Jan 30, 2007 9:59 pm

Not my doctor, but I’m not worth 10 million either.

Jan 30, 2007 10:24 pm

As for house calls, who makes house calls?  Waste of time, does you doctor come to you?

I do business calls in home, on occasion.  Some of my clients are elderly and have difficluty getting out.  Business owners who are often tied to their place of business appreciate a visit in their office.

You don't want to make a big practice of this but going the extra mile for worthy clients is impressive and you will get referrals.  Although, I usually explain that if at all possible we would be better off with a meeting in my office since my resource materials are there. Sometimes it is just better to go to the client.

I also do calls at home with many of my clients with whom I socialze.  Review the account... have coctails.  My doctor, lawyer and the mechanic/specialist who fixes up all of our collectable cars come to my house for food and drinks too.      (Car club  )  

Advice to newbies.....If you are into collectible cars and hot rods, join a club.  People who can afford a $12,000 paint job are likely to have other discretionary funds.  Plus you will have fun and the more networking you can do the better.

Jan 31, 2007 2:15 am

24 years experience. Take it for what it's worth.

A few thoughts on some of the topics raised here:

Cars:

Cars are a double edged sword. They can work for you or against you. Over the span of a year you will run into every type of person. From the materialistic to the penny pincher. From the only buys American to the won't buy American. There is no way to know ahead of time who you will meet and how they will judge you. So, buy the car you want, but be sensible. I started with a VW Rabbit and kept it for 4 years. It was as impressive then as it is today. And we did make house calls then. The car never cost me a client. In fact it helped with my largest client at the time. A business owner who gave me about 7 million to invest. His car, a ten year old Buick Century. He said he liked sensible people. Rabbit front and center reporting for duty. My next cars were a 5 series BMW that no client ever saw and Mercury Grand Marquis take'em to lunch car. From there, there was an assortment of toy cars while the biz machines were a line of trusty Lincoln Towncars. Clients love those cars. I realize they are not the right image for today's 20, 30 something. Lincoln MKZ, Acura TL would do on the high end, while a Honda Accord would be the smart buy. I drove Accords for 16 years. If a prospect made a stupid comment, and few did, I'd tell them that my money was in the market and that their's should be too.

High priced car: This is a non starter. Why would anyone do anything that puts them in this position? Yeah, back in the day some wall street mgrs actually leased high end cars for trainees to motivate them. So let me tell you about net capital months. A net capital month is when you have more month then paycheck. To make it to the next payday the dough comes from your net capital. For slow learners, that's your bank account. In the beginning there will be many net capital months. Especially in that awkward year two when being weaned off the salary hasn't quite jived with commissions ramping up. A high end anything monthy payment will shorten the hang time and hasten an premature depature from the biz along with royally screwing up your credit. Bottom line; most people can't tell the difference between an Altima and a G35. But extra $300 a month you'll pay may be all the difference.

BMW: I'm 54. I've got money. I am your prospect. What the average 54 year old knows that the average twenty something doesn't is how money works. We know how long it takes to accumulate wealth. And we know that things like expensive cars should be purchased from accumulated wealth, not out of cash flow. Something else that age 50 will bring that age 25 doesn't get. We, age 50, are not impressed by cars. Let me qualify that. If you show up in a numbers matching, documented, restored, 70 Hemi Cuda convertible, we'll be impressed. Show up in an M3 and we'll ask if we can take our car to lunch. If you show up in any toy car, keep driving. That would be Porsche, Aston Martin etc. The deal is simple, at our age, your average propect could not only buy whatever car they wish, they could buy a fleet of them. Yet they don't. That should be a clue. Cars don't do it for us. Anyone with a W-2 can buy a car.  If you want to impress us you need to do it with what's between your ears, not a blue and white propeller.

House call: Doctors don't make house calls and neither do the ML guys. So what! Want to seperate yourself from the pack? Make house calls. Want to still give off that big swinging d**k image. Never answer your own phone, don't take the call when it comes in, have your assistant make all your appointments and have him/her call the day before to confirm it. You should be using your assistant to organize your time in this way anyway. The time she saves you will more than make up for having to run an appointment out of the office every night when you'd normally be home instead. Your marketing approach is main street not wall street. You are the friendly advisor who cares. Corny, youbetcha. Does it work? Youbetcha!

What to wear: Cheap the wrong way to go. So is high end. You'll ruin more suits on sharp corners than you'll wear out. I buy most of my suits at Joseph Banks. A good mid line suit, that is tailored. Good shirts and most important for the guys nice ties. Also, no goofy shoes. high end black leather purchased from a specialty retailer, not the mall. These shoes will last for years.

Wealth: As you accumulate it, don't show it off. Nothing wrong with buying whatever you like, but keep it low key in front of the help and the clients. Believe me, if you don't, it will bite you.

Jan 31, 2007 2:33 am

Ok-

 <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Ladies and Gentlemen that is a real producer  - he just ripped Seth to shreds.
Jan 31, 2007 3:41 am

How about a burnt orange 72 Eldorado convertible with steer horns on the front?

Jan 31, 2007 4:04 am

Hell yeah, my pops has a 12k paint job in that nice vet. I will register and join a club!

Jan 31, 2007 4:22 pm

[quote=DirtyDeltaBro]

Ok-

 <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Ladies and Gentlemen that is a real producer  - he just ripped Seth to shreds.[/quote]

Hey I don't claim to have all the answers or solutions. I think BondGuy was right on the money with a lot of points. That was a very intelligent post unlike some of the other garbage you see on this site. I am just throwing my 2 cents out there for any newbies. This is a free country and everyone has a different style. That is the beauty of living in this great country we call AMERICA.

Best of luck to everyone! Remember....greed for lack of a better word is GOOD.

Strength and Honor.

Jan 31, 2007 4:36 pm

You get your inspiration from Glengarry Glen Ross?  Good luck to you.

Jan 31, 2007 5:59 pm

[quote=Seth Davis]

1) Buy 3 nice suits. Do not shop the discount rack at Men's Wearhouse or JC Penney. Make them NICE suits. Brooks Brothers, Armani. The investment will pay off.

Agree with buy nice suits. Designer or not is a personal choice. Some of these makers could make you look a little more than slick.

2) Get a nice haircut. You are not in college anymore. You actually need to look respectable and shower every day.

Personal grooming, very important. The in look for the 20 somethings is shaved head and unshaven face. Unless you're going for the LEO look, that's backwards. The shaved head makes you look like a LEO and unless you're handing out speeding tickets on your second job there is no place for it here. Unshaven doesn't fly.

3) Lease a nice car even if you can't afford it. You can't drive to a client visit in a 1998 VW Jetta and expect to be taken seriously.

98 Jetta's get a bad rap. They're good cars. Most likely, your clients will never see your car. For those that do, as long as all the fenders are the same color, most couldn't tell it from an 07 BMW. Keep you car clean inside and out. If you're really worried about going to a meeting in your car, rent a better car for the meeting. It will be cheaper than payments.

4) Subsrcibe to the Wall Street Journal and read it every day. You might actually learn something and sound like you know something when you talk to clients.

Good advice. Learn to read it in 15 minutes

5) Live by this quote: "There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can't. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him?"

Very good sales advice,to a point. Closing is a lost art in our business. I suspect the suits and trainers who either have never done it or weren't very good at it, thus they need the salary they're receiving instead of surviving on their abilty. You can't teach what you can't do, and the truth is these people don't want closers. They want consultants, where the business just magically takes place through osmosis.Too many times in my trips around branch offices I hear exactly what Seth is talking about, the advisor giving in to a minor objection, or worse, failing to ask for the order. The flip side of that is knowing when to fold and back off. Too heavy a closing is as bad as too little. Experience will teach where the line is.

Best of luck. Enjoy the ride.

With the exception of the car thing, in my opinion Seth has done Ok here. And as a car guy who couldn't wait to get out of econobox prison I can't fault anyone for wanting a hot ride. The good news is, work long and hard, and even the most expensive cars come into the realm of possibility. Just wait for it to come to you. Having to quit to get a real job, you know, one with a salary because you can't make your monthly nut is ludicrous if a BMW lease payment is part of that nut.

[/quote]
Jan 31, 2007 6:08 pm

You get your inspiration from Glengarry Glen Ross?  Good luck to you.

It is a wonderful movie - I hope everyone here sees it (again).

Jack Lemmon is the greatest loser in the world.

I think the concept of learning from losers comes from religious studies and philosophy.

There are affirmations - what you should do (can't think of the sales movie) - and negations, like Glengarry.

Even though Al Pacino has the right idea - don't chase prospects - he suffers the market consequences of hard closing.

The movie was originally a play.

Every corporate home office employee (up to the president) should be required to view this movie, and write a book report, and present in the lunch room.

Jan 31, 2007 6:12 pm

Hey I don't claim to have all the answers or solutions.

When I saw the (intelligence) of the original post, I laughed.

It is so popular.

Jan 31, 2007 6:13 pm

[quote=joedabrkr]How about a burnt orange 72 Eldorado convertible with steer horns on the front? [/quote]

And the wide whites? Nah, give me a 70, 71 Hemi Cuda or Challenger. Or a 70 Boss 302, or 69 Shelby KR500. And because I'm partial to the cars I grew up with, a nice 64 Lincoln Convertible.

Problem is, as nice as any of these cars are to dream about, own and drive, the reality is owning them is a burden. The burden of upkeep, insurance, storage, and the wall of worry just driving them around. Same goes with other toys, boats, motorcycles etc. There is a PIA factor with all this stuff. Somthing to keep in mind.

Jan 31, 2007 6:48 pm

I want my clients to always be thinking about the 'transfer' of their wealth after they pass on from this world.

Nothing says, "estate planning" like an old Caddy Hearse.

Jan 31, 2007 7:50 pm

Haha, nice one!

Feb 1, 2007 12:27 am

ha haaaaaa… That is great!

Feb 3, 2007 4:08 am

I Don't own a suit I paid more than $500 for, I drive an exlporer and my wife now drives a 6 year old mercedes.  We live a kick a$$ house that could fit in the garage of most of my co-workers. 

Our Boat goes faster than 90% of automobiles on the road and the motors are worth more than a 5 series BMW.  It is getting a 40k paint job this winter (remember my post?),  and the stereo has cost me more than my entire first year's income in this business.

We all choose what to spend our money on and should not pick on each other for it.
Feb 3, 2007 5:22 am

[quote=BondGuy]

[quote=joedabrkr]How about a burnt orange 72 Eldorado convertible with steer horns on the front? [/quote]

And the wide whites? Nah, give me a 70, 71 Hemi Cuda or Challenger. Or a 70 Boss 302, or 69 Shelby KR500. And because I'm partial to the cars I grew up with, a nice 64 Lincoln Convertible.

Problem is, as nice as any of these cars are to dream about, own and drive, the reality is owning them is a burden. The burden of upkeep, insurance, storage, and the wall of worry just driving them around. Same goes with other toys, boats, motorcycles etc. There is a PIA factor with all this stuff. Somthing to keep in mind.

[/quote]

Didn't the '64 Lincoln have those really cool suicide doors?
Feb 3, 2007 9:49 am

[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=BondGuy]

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Didn't the '64 Lincoln have those really cool suicide doors?
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Gotta love those suicide doors, my mom has a '63 Lincoln that's just sittin in her driveway beggin to be restored, maybe one day I'll get around to it.

Be a neat conversation piece to drive the same car JFK got shot in.

The 460 in that thing only gets 8 miles/gallon though...ouch!

Feb 21, 2007 2:46 pm

Great comments by everyone!! Best of luck.

Feb 21, 2007 4:16 pm

[quote=ExPropTrader][quote=joedabrkr] [quote=BondGuy]

[quote= [/quote]

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Didn't the '64 Lincoln have those really cool suicide doors?
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Gotta love those suicide doors, my mom has a '63 Lincoln that's just sittin in her driveway beggin to be restored, maybe one day I'll get around to it.

Be a neat conversation piece to drive the same car JFK got shot in.

The 460 in that thing only gets 8 miles/gallon though...ouch!

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The suicide door Lincolns started in 61. That car ,finless in a big fin world of the early sixties, with its slab sides, suicide doors,and advanced engineering won a slew of design awards. To this day it remains a benchmark car. The design remained unchanged thru 62 and 63 with minor cosmetic changes. 64 brought a longer wheel base and for 66 a complete makeover. The suicide door cars remained until another major redesign in 1970.

The Car featured in the opening credits of Entourage is a 65.

Kennedy's car was a 61. It's known as the X100. It was a standard Lincoln Continental 4 door convertible. The car was sent to coach builder Hess and Eisenhardt to be converted to a Presidential parade car. In 62 Kennedy sent it back to the FoMoCo, the car's owner, for an updated 1962 grill. Kennedy also used a standard 62 Lincoln Contentental Convertible Sedan as his everyday car. After the assassination the X100 was confiscated by the secret service until Dec of 1963. It was then returned to Hess & Eisenhardt where it was rearmored, and modified with a bulletproof bubble roof and glass at a cost of $500,000. It remained in service until 1977 and then returned to FoMoCo. Today it's on display at the Henry Ford Museum.

Pres Johnson wanted a new car. He even pointed out that if movie producers could afford to destroy them in movies surely the government could afford to provide him a new car. He was referring to the James Bond film "Goldfinger" in which one of the bad guys, Mr. Solo, get crushed inside a Lincoln. Known as Mr. Solo's crushing engagement, Mr. Solo is driven to a salvage yard in a 64 Lincoln. While it is a 64 Lincoln that drives to the yard, the producers subsituted a 63 Lincoln, purchased used at a Miami Lincoln Mercury dealer, to be crushed. The producers removed the engine to reduce weight to keep the car's roof from being ripped off as it was lifted into the crusher. It was nearly ripped off anyway.  As another piece of useless trivia, the the 63 Lincoln was crushed to a 3x3x3 cube and put into the rear of Ford Ranchero pick up. The car, engineless, was so heavy it crushed the rear axle of the Ranchero. The producers had the cube cut in half, bought another Ranchero, shot the scene. As for why the producers decided to buy another Lincoln to crush, the 64 they had was Ford's car not theirs. Ford agreed to supply all the cars for the movie in exchange for featuring the then new 65 Mustang. Ford gave them a thumbs down on crushing a new version of their flagship car.

And yes, it's a slow day and month is made. Thanks for reading.

Feb 22, 2007 1:14 am

Mental note: Never play Trivial Pursuit with BondGuy! 

Feb 22, 2007 1:20 am

That always struck me when I’d see “Goldfinger” that they took that Lincoln,

crushed it (supposedly with $1,000,000 in gold bars in the trunk"), then

plunked it into the back of of the Fairlaine Ranchero.



Isn’t poetic license a wonderful thing?

Feb 22, 2007 4:12 pm

And I didn't even mention the fact that all the Kentucky horse farm scenes were shot in Florida. Which neatly explains why the producers went to a Miami car dealer to buy the cars they needed.

Anyone want to talk about Bullitt?

Feb 23, 2007 3:18 pm

Congrats on making your month BG, and no I doubt I would EVER play Trivial Pursuit with you!

Feb 24, 2007 2:28 pm

I suck Trivial Pusuit. Actually, haven't played in a long time. No fun playing a game I always lose.

Just for the record, the Ranchero in Goldfinger was a Falcon and the 460 engine didn't come along until 1966. The 63's had a 430CID. Not that it matters, just keepin the record straight. Not trying to be boorish.

And again no where did I mention that Sean Connery didn't step foot in the United States to film any of the scenes from GoldFinger. Which begs the question; is there really any gold in Fort Knox?

I won't mention how the theme song from you know what movie made it #7 on the pop charts.

Feb 28, 2007 6:26 pm

[quote=BondGuy]

I suck Trivial Pusuit. Actually, haven't played in a long time. No fun playing a game I always lose.

Just for the record, the Ranchero in Goldfinger was a Falcon and the 460 engine didn't come along until 1966. The 63's had a 430CID. Not that it matters, just keepin the record straight. Not trying to be boorish.

And again no where did I mention that Sean Connery didn't step foot in the United States to film any of the scenes from GoldFinger. Which begs the question; is there really any gold in Fort Knox?

I won't mention how the theme song from you know what movie made it #7 on the pop charts.

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Best car from a Bond movie is the white Lotus Esprit from the "Spy Who Loved Me". Pretty cool when it turns into a scuba boat and goes underwater for a little bit.

Feb 28, 2007 6:29 pm

Here I thought “Bond Guy” was a fixed-income guru…turns out he is a 007 expert. Good stuff! I have always loved James Bond movies. Roger Moore was #1, Connery #2…IMO.

Feb 28, 2007 7:46 pm

TAKE GOLF LESSONS…

Mar 1, 2007 1:43 am

Take golf lessons and practic, then take more lessons

Mar 6, 2007 2:17 pm

Take golf lessons and also fork out the cash for a nice country club membership. You don’t take clients to the local public course that has $25 green fees to impress them.

Mar 6, 2007 5:37 pm

It really does not take that long, buy the big golf lesson package in winter at substantial discount, and stretch it out for six months. The consistency of having someone stand over you and practice (no one can tell you the "secret" of a good golf swing, you have to discover and develop it in yourself) will bear fruit.

When you are confident enough (not "good" enough), in one round of golf with anyone, you can discover whether or not you want to serve them. Beware of egotistical or cheating golfers. Don't waste money on alchohol at the nice club unless they are clients - then keep it to one drink and run, because you are busy.

(Don't waste all your time on a few people, the golf with lots of different prospects/ friends of your clients is the important thing. The discipline of one drink also ensure productivity and a balanced life - may sound silly but it works if golf is a major business driver for you.)

Mar 6, 2007 7:07 pm

Don't waste money on alchohol at the nice club unless they are clients - then keep it to one drink and run, because you are busy. "

Good point. Perception in many instances is reality. One drink to unwind a little and you are off- back to the office for meetings. Clients/ PRO's will respect that. You know how to have a good time but are also dedicated to hard work, you are successful, etc, etc...

Even if you are off to sit on the couch after a long day- what they dont know they dont know...

Mar 20, 2007 1:58 pm

[quote=blarmston]

Don't waste money on alchohol at the nice club unless they are clients - then keep it to one drink and run, because you are busy. "

Good point. Perception in many instances is reality. One drink to unwind a little and you are off- back to the office for meetings. Clients/ PRO's will respect that. You know how to have a good time but are also dedicated to hard work, you are successful, etc, etc...

Even if you are off to sit on the couch after a long day- what they dont know they dont know...

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GREAT advice!!!!!