Wachovia Securities

[quote=Whomitmayconcer]

Sorry, but after reading your post, I feel most inclined to tell you to drop dead.

You say you are social and outgoing and yet you have managed to alienate people from a far distance.

I would also tell you to learn how to construct paragraphs to make your writing more appealing.

The other problem is that you seem to be mistaken about who Wachovia Securities is. There are three lines at WS, one being in bank branches, one being (what will become) the second largest wirehouse in America and thirdly the Indy channel (for which you mos def do not qualify!)

One can not help but be surprised that grad from a top 50 Bus School doesn't already know these things given that reading a financial newspaper daily ought to be habit by now.

WS the wirehouse seems to be a good opportunity right now in that there are a number of AGE guys walking out the door and that will make prospecting old books an relatively easy way to get started in the business (the same should be said for Smith Barney, it could be a buy when nobody want it scenario there, not to mention that there could be some lucre when they do get sold to someone else.) Contrapositively, the other firms are burping after the feeding frenzy and they are less likely to be enthralled with newbies.

With your level of experience, you really don't have what it takes to be picky. If you really want to be in this business take what you can get (except for Jones, that's a bad place IMHO). Or go out and prove your worth as more than a drug slinger (bartender) so that others will be more willing to hire you on.

And lose the 'tude dude

What are you talking about? Tude? Have you ever read posts on this forum? There are so many bullsh** posts on here it is ridiculous.  I just want people to respond who can help me.  You acutally did help when you said something constrcutive in the middle of your post.  The things like criticing my writing, saying I have  an attiutude, and calling me a drug slinger and just uneccessary and exactly the type of things I was trying to weed out.  Drug slingger what are you a prude?Thnaks for proving me right.  I am not trying to alientate anyone.  I am looking for good advise.

I am looking for good advise

Learn how to write.  Your writing makes you appear unintelligent.

[quote=Scully007]Have you ever read posts on this forum? There are so many bullsh** posts on here it is ridiculous.  [/quote]

Yes, but most of us have already MADE it in this business and so therefore we can act however we want.  You're the one that is asking for advise, not us.

Maybe what you should have learned is that in the real world there is your perception of whom you are projecting and the perception of others of who you are.

Your perception rarely means diddly, especially when you are the low man on the totem pole.

You obviously thought that you were projecting an image of someone who knows the score and wants to let everyone know that you expect to be treated differently.

My perception is that you are a weinie.

I may be wrong, you might be a real good guy, but I only have what you put down to judge by. But what you consider clear ground rule setting, I perceive as "attitude."

The same is true with the Bartender deal. Nobody in the adult world is impressed with the fact that you can sling drinks. Especially not when the drinking establishment is in a college town environment. If you had spent 15 years as a white glove bartender at Le Beau Rivage and you heard the stories of ten thousand rich men, then there is a different level of acceptance.

If I liked you then I'd let things like writing style slide, but when I don't like you, then I see the irony of a guy with a 3 point blah blah form a top blah blah who can't be bothered to break his post into paragraphs, while he's asking me (so long as I'm not one of the dirt bag regulars here, which I am) for help.

It's about perception, and you seem to misperceive Wachovia Securities.

You see? Every word of my post was constructive criticism, offered to help you in your journey.

WMIC - I never cared for your posts in the past - but you're awesome!  Love your response to this newbie.  Scully007 is obviously uneducated on life and somehow believes that GPA is relevant in this industry.

Also - 'pruning the bush' came out the wrong way - but I'm glad you can find humor in relating it to our magnificant President.

BUSH 08!!!

App,

Thank you... And as to pruning the bush and the weekend joke... there has to be another joke in there, nudge nudge wink wink saynomore saynomore.

[quote=Scully007]

What are you talking about? Tude? Have you ever read posts on this forum? There are so many bullsh** posts on here it is ridiculous.  I just want people to respond who can help me.  You acutally did help when you said something constrcutive in the middle of your post.  The things like criticing my writing, saying I have  an attiutude, and calling me a drug slinger and just uneccessary and exactly the type of things I was trying to weed out.  Drug slingger what are you a prude?Thnaks for proving me right.  I am not trying to alientate anyone.  I am looking for good advise.

Judging from the fact that you used "I" 26 times in roughly 20 sentences, others may anticipate that you are the only thing you focus on.  You will want to learn to focus much more attention on your audience and their interests in order to better understand your own ultimate purpose for being.

Wachovia Securities is basically the old Prudential Securities, a wirehouse and is still very much a wirehouse atmosphere with goals of asset gathering and then learning to put them to work as time goes on.  The training program probably depends most differences that occur on an office by office basis.  You will have to interview the BM and see if he seems motivated to see you succeed.  If he believes that a person can start from scratch with no real connections and build a book he might be a good link to the training program. 

Otherwise WS may not be good for a noob, who needs to get on the phone and pull rabbits out of a hat.  Please understand that pulling rabbits out of one's hat is not impossible nor is it much different from building a book of business as an FA.  Like slight of hand, skills on the phone are a hands-on skill developed thru practice, practice, practice.  There is no real magic to either.

[quote=Scully007]I am interested in working for Wachovia Securities.  I have seen a few openings in my area and am considering applying.  I am curious what the training and culture will be because its a bank and not a wirehouse.  I know that I want to be a FA but I am having troble picking an organization.  I have never worked as a FA and I want to go to a company that will help me succeed.  I don't need to advise on "what it takes to make it as an FA" I have done a lot of homework on what the career entails, I need help picking an organization.  Just some additional facts about me that might help, I am 25 and I have a baby face(maybe that could have have some influence to where I go). I have graduated from one of the top 50 business schools in the country with a BBA in management.  I graduated with a 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.6 in my major, minor in psychololgy.  I am very social and out going.  I make friends very quickly.  I have worked in the restaurant business for almost 10 years supporting myself through school as a waiter and now as a bartender.  I am only looking for helpful, informative posts about expieriences at Wachovia in particular but I would also like feedback on some wirehouses as well.  I would like to hear from newbies and maybe management level people.  I do not want to work for an independent, so if you work for one don't bother posting unless you worked for a big comapny in the past. I want constructive post only.  I would like all the info I can get and please as specific as possible.  Thank you for your help.[/quote]

Might as well be a wirehouse.  Wachovia Securities reps have no access to bank records of Wachovia customers.  They are in their own buildings if the city is big enough.  You won't get any more drop in traffic that the Eddie Jones office around the corner.  Perhaps you should do a little less assuming.

WMIC - yes, much more to the 'prunning the bush' joke - but this is a clean forum (well - kinda).

Did anyone else get a crybaby PM from Scully007?

[quote=Ferris Bueller]Did anyone else get a crybaby PM from Scully007?[/quote]

Yep me too.  This piker thinks that he has it all figured out!

Here's how the PM to me went:

"Waaaaaaaahwaaaaaaaaahaaaaaa  you're so mean wahhhhhh  WAHHHHHHHHH.  BOooo hooooo, your'e a jerk."

Repeat that several times and add in some spelling/punctuation errors!

[quote=apprentice]

WMIC - I never cared for your posts in the past - but you're awesome!  Love your response to this newbie.  Scully007 is obviously uneducated on life and somehow believes that GPA is relevant in this industry.

Also - 'pruning the bush' came out the wrong way - but I'm glad you can find humor in relating it to our magnificant President.

BUSH 08!!!

[/quote]

I had a high GPA and I'm a total idiot.

Ferris Bueller is my hero.  He makes so much money, WOW. This forum is the best! I’m so glad that I found this site. I don’t know what I would do without it.

We’re glad you found this site too.  Try not to spill some margarita mix on your loafers tonight.

My GPA wasn't high enough to get into the major I wanted because I fecked off too much as a sophomore.  Afraid I might have to quit without a degree, I showed up at the dean's office during the summer after having been shot down by his secretary for a meeting.  Armed with a $30 box of chocolate and the fact that my car broke down in the parking lot, I was determined to stay until I got a meeting.

That was the least expensive, least time consuming and most effective lesson I obtained in college.

Now I just have some pictures and artifacts in my office that point to my experience at that school.  Good prospecting and fishing tools when people come in for a meeting.

[quote=Scully007]Ferris Bueller is my hero.  He makes so much money, WOW. This forum is the best! I’m so glad that I found this site. I don’t know what I would do without it.[/quote]

Hey piker-how about this for a plan:  You go and do it all your way since you have it all figured out.  Come back to us in a year and tell us how it worked out.

And just remember, if you can say “Would you like an apple pie with that?”, you always have something to fall back on.

Honestly, you have received a bashing that I am not sure you deserved.  You may be too thin skinned for this business.

Why do you want to be a Financial Advisor?  What do you think the average account size YOU could bring in would be?  That would help us recommend a firm.

This is a sales job, and you have to bring the accounts in.

Scully, you wanted some advice from some "managment level" people, so I'll give it to you:

Dial it down bro! Your schooling and holier than thou attitude, will get you nowhere. It doesnt matter where you start, what matters is what you do when you get there. And talking sh*t will get you nowhere. Just make sure wherever you go, there is a training program in place that has some structure to it, and a branch manager who is not running 3 branches at once. so you'll get some attention when you are 3 months in and ready to commit suicide.

Stick with the big guys for now, SB ML MS, WS UBS. There are differences between the firms, but for a wet behind the ears kid like you, yes you, its all bullsh*t. Of the 5 names I mentioned, I'd rather you picked the worst firm with the best Management team, than vice versa.

And oh, if and when you do get lucky enough to be given an opportunity to do what we lucky souls do for a livng, make sure you proof read all your letters and emails before you hit send.

Scully, I'll admit some were harsh on you, and perhaps your ego may translate into tenacity and determination if you do decide to become a part of this industry. Others have pointed it out good advice, as crass as it may be. This occupation is about rejection, and sometimes it hurts. Enough of the chicken soup talk--getting down to what you were asking, WS is going to be very difficult for you to get a job at. I'm not discrediting you in anyway or trying to hurt your feelings, but the honest truth is, most banks don't care what school you went to, or how many bars you have worked at. They don't want to hire some newb who needs to learn the ropes. They want someone who has SOME experience, whether that be sales, insurance, another wirehouse, etc. That being said, from what it seems like, you have neither of the above, and with that taken, unless you have the in with a bank, your next best bet is to try for a 1st or 2nd tier wirehouse. From there, use the search button, and research each one. Don't let the naysayers get you down...the facts state that you will fail at these firms, but with the right amount of gusto and determination, anything is possible. Good luck!

[quote=Ferris Bueller]Here’s how the PM to me went:

"Waaaaaaaahwaaaaaaaaahaaaaaa  you're so mean wahhhhhh  WAHHHHHHHHH.  BOooo hooooo, your'e a jerk."

Repeat that several times and add in some spelling/punctuation errors![/quote]

...that's pretty damned funny.  Scully, FWIW, I imagine that most of us have been in your shoes.  I remember coming out of school and going to work for a regional public accounting firm.  I thought I had it all figured out...I had my BS degree with academic honors and I was smarter than any of the old fools in the building.  A week into my employment, a partner asked me to compose a letter to his client, which I did very well, thank you.  Imagine how pissed off I was when I got the letter back and he'd literally scratched out every damned word except "Dear"!!!  I've been learning ever since how little I really know, but I'll guarantee that after 17 years in this industry and the last 8+ as a registered rep, I still know a heck of a lot more than you do.

The point is, you DO write with an attitude and your spelling/punctuation is damned poor.  I don't want to hear that "this is just a forum".  That's a poor excuse to not pactice good grammar, punctuation and spelling.  This isn't Yahoo and most of the most desireable clients in this business are far from illiterate and you don't want them thinking you're a dumbass.  You've gotten some excellent advice here and that along with a dose of humility will help you a great deal.  With some noteable exceptions which you can find by using the search feature on this forum, the firm is mostly irrelevant...find a manager you like and go with it.

...and don't worry...most independents wouldn't touch you at this stage in the game...

[quote=Indyone][quote=Ferris Bueller]Here’s how the PM to me went:

"Waaaaaaaahwaaaaaaaaahaaaaaa  you're so mean wahhhhhh  WAHHHHHHHHH.  BOooo hooooo, your'e a jerk."

Repeat that several times and add in some spelling/punctuation errors![/quote]

...that's pretty damned funny.  Scully, FWIW, I imagine that most of us have been in your shoes.  I remember coming out of school and going to work for a regional public accounting firm.  I thought I had it all figured out...I had my BS degree with academic honors and I was smarter than any of the old fools in the building.  A week into my employment, a partner asked me to compose a letter to his client, which I did very well, thank you.  Imagine how pissed off I was when I got the letter back and he'd literally scratched out every damned word except "Dear"!!!  I've been learning ever since how little I really know, but I'll guarantee that after 17 years in this industry and the last 8+ as a registered rep, I still know a heck of a lot more than you do.

The point is, you DO write with an attitude and your spelling/punctuation is damned poor.  I don't want to hear that "this is just a forum".  That's a poor excuse to not pactice good grammar, punctuation and spelling.  This isn't Yahoo and most of the most desireable clients in this business are far from illiterate and you don't want them thinking you're a dumbass.  You've gotten some excellent advice here and that along with a dose of humility will help you a great deal.  With some noteable exceptions which you can find by using the search feature on this forum, the firm is mostly irrelevant...find a manager you like and go with it.

...and don't worry...most independents wouldn't touch you at this stage in the game...

[/quote]

Practice what you preach sir. That goes for all members of the grammar/spelling police.

[quote=Indyone][quote=Ferris Bueller]Here’s how the PM to me went:

"Waaaaaaaahwaaaaaaaaahaaaaaa  you're so mean wahhhhhh  WAHHHHHHHHH.  BOooo hooooo, your'e a jerk."

Repeat that several times and add in some spelling/punctuation errors![/quote]

...that's pretty damned funny.  Scully, FWIW, I imagine that most of us have been in your shoes.  I remember coming out of school and going to work for a regional public accounting firm.  I thought I had it all figured out...I had my BS degree with academic honors and I was smarter than any of the old fools in the building.  A week into my employment, a partner asked me to compose a letter to his client, which I did very well, thank you.  Imagine how pissed off I was when I got the letter back and he'd literally scratched out every damned word except "Dear"!!!  I've been learning ever since how little I really know, but I'll guarantee that after 17 years in this industry and the last 8+ as a registered rep, I still know a heck of a lot more than you do.

The point is, you DO write with an attitude and your spelling/punctuation is damned poor.  I don't want to hear that "this is just a forum".  That's a poor excuse to not pactice good grammar, punctuation and spelling.  This isn't Yahoo and most of the most desireable clients in this business are far from illiterate and you don't want them thinking you're a dumbass.  You've gotten some excellent advice here and that along with a dose of humility will help you a great deal.  With some noteable exceptions which you can find by using the search feature on this forum, the firm is mostly irrelevant...find a manager you like and go with it.

...and don't worry...most independents wouldn't touch you at this stage in the game...

[/quote]

Reminds me of how I got out of college with both Masters and Bachelors Degrees in Accounting, starting at Arthur Andersen. They had me footing columns of numbers down and across. Very glamorous.

With all due respect, you're really stretching here.  I missed an 'r' in one word...a simple typo, and I'll challenge you to tell me what's wrong with my second "transgression".  It may not be a thing of beauty, but I don't see the grammatical error here.  If you're an english major, please enlighten me.

My transgressions are far from what I saw out of scully and I'm pretty tired of illiterates coming here thinking they can get rich quick when they obviously slept through grammar school.  I think we should respect each other enough to construct coherent sentences.  This is supposed to be a "professional" forum, yet some of us write like 3rd graders.  I'm starting to think that command of the English language is a dying art.

...and you can climb off your high horse now, cowboy.

I'm pretty tired of illiterates coming here thinking they can get rich quick when they obviously slept through grammar school.  I think we should respect each other enough to construct coherent sentences.  This is supposed to be a "professional" forum, yet some of us write like 3rd graders.  I'm starting to think that command of the English language is a dying art.

You're correct.  The schools haven't taught reading skills, English composition, grammar, punctuation or much of anything else in the last 20 years or longer.  So, poor Scully is probably at genius level English skills considering the crappy education he received. 

It's pitiful. We have fuzzy math and holistic reading that leave these young kids thinking they know it all, when they know next to nothing.   We give them high self esteem and pats on the back and then turn them out into the world with the functional skills of an eight grader (at least when I was in school in the way back olden days )

And here's a tip for y'all.......Google toolbar spell check

gaaaahhhh!!     eighth grader