Uh uh huh. I'll take my high payout anyway I can get. Might want to pose the quiznos question to the "executive" - ya know, the guy who owns two beamers, the house on variable credit, his wife is at the mall.

If he's a real impressive guy, I'll bet he's really looking forward to your "classy" cold call. Listen, Vin, the more you can show people who you are, instead of telling, the more money you make.

If you are just calling the exec and inviting him to a round of golf at your private club, okay, you win. I doubt the average rookie can afford that approach. So cut the snooty crap.

[quote=coolshoos]

Uh uh huh. I'll take my high payout anyway I can get. Might want to pose the quiznos question to the "executive" - ya know, the guy who owns two beamers, the house on variable credit, his wife is at the mall.

If he's a real impressive guy, I'll bet he's really looking forward to your "classy" cold call. Listen, Vin, the more you can show people who you are, instead of telling, the more money you make.

If you are just calling the exec and inviting him to a round of golf at your private club, okay, you win. I doubt the average rookie can afford that approach. So cut the snooty crap.

[/quote]

I disagree with this.  You don't have to be a rookie to take someone to golf and impress them.  If you can play for $50/person, and do it for 50 execs over the course of a year, the golf will come out to $5000.  Add in costs for lunch too.  You'll be able to write off a good portion of it come tax time.  And if you impress him enough, the exec might invite you to their club and pick up the tab.  If this happens, you might get introduced to 2 of his friends.  And on it goes.  If you landed a couple of these execs a year, the golf would be way more than paid for.  You don't have to belong to a country club to do this.  Often times execs love to play, especially new courses.  Find out what your marketing budget is and allocate some of it to golf if you think that will give you an advantage.  If you could only afford to do this once or twice a month, by the end of the year, you'll have met 12-24 highly qualified investors.  If you can schmooze, you can win big clients in this business.

There's the old spirit. I'll be the last one to be snooty about the how and where of how you take someone golfing. Right on, snags.

Here are some examples of snooty crap:

My firm is better than your firm (right, you have an ivy league degree, and your retail financial sales ***t doesn't stink like the guy over at Ameriprise.)

I'm better 'cause I'm an RIA (your one or one point five percent fee doesn't stink like my 12b1 fee).

I'm better than fishbowls ( because you cold call people from lists of people who spend more money on houses than they can afford).

I'm better 'cause I don't sell annuities ( 'cause you hose people for a different fee, and spend all your time geeking out on ***t that doesn't matter.

Shmooze 'em, snags, that's what we get paid for, that and all the expensive training that everyone here already has to get in the game.

This business belongs to the young and the restless.

Coolshoos,

I gotta, I dig the handle! I don't know why, actually, I do...

Why because it suggests them and they suggest a self confident lady wearing provocative footwear!

And then you come here and stick you stilletto heels into the medula oblongata of these guys who have the temerity to make fun of your firm.

This business does NOT belong to the Y&R. It belongs to the old and POTENT, Potentates you might refer to us as. This is a good thing for you because being Y&R only lasts so long, and if you haven't reached the point where you are a destination and not a seller of maps to the homes of the stars by the time you are no longer young, then you'll be restless and old, and the world can smell that flop sweat a mile away.

Dayum, I gotta think about that, whomitmay, because I may be what you say, restless and old. You seem to be some piece of work yourself. Ya have to constantly remake yourself, I've seen guys go crazy or worse.

But I ain't taking no sh** about mama b/d, she nursed me when I was young, so you're right about going for that which controls the vital functions with the heels, when threatened.

whomit said flopsweat

[quote=coolshoos]

Here are some examples of snooty crap:

This business belongs to the young and the restless.

[quote=AllREIT] [quote=coolshoos]

Here are some examples of snooty crap:

This business belongs to the young and the restless.

[/quote]

If you can't tell people why you are better than competition, you have no business getting infront of clients. NONE.
[/quote]

Good point, just remember it's theatre, and you're in front of other advisors when you're performing here: flopsweat.

[quote=coolshoos]

Uh uh huh. I'll take my high payout anyway I can get. Might want to pose the quiznos question to the "executive" - ya know, the guy who owns two beamers, the house on variable credit, his wife is at the mall.

If he's a real impressive guy, I'll bet he's really looking forward to your "classy" cold call. Listen, Vin, the more you can show people who you are, instead of telling, the more money you make.

If you are just calling the exec and inviting him to a round of golf at your private club, okay, you win. I doubt the average rookie can afford that approach. So cut the snooty crap.

[/quote]

I am at ML in the midwest and I wear a suit everyday. If you look like a chump, you will be perceived as one. I guess some companies don’t care about professionalism.

I used to wear a suit everyday.  I still do most days.  I've started to lose the tie more and more over the last couple years.  I feel like, being a 30something, that the older clients want a guy in a tie.  But over the years, as I've got to know many clients better, they care less about what I dress like, and value what I do for them.  I don't think I ever show up to work looking like a "chump". 

As far as "some companies" and their dress codes:  I believe the employee advisors (P1) have a dress code, which is suit and tie.  I'm P2, own my book, and can dress as I please.  I please to usually wear a suit. 

It really boils down to whatever works.  Some people dress for success with a polo and slacks, some a suit and tie... whatever helps you be successful in your market.

[quote=leftykickserve]

I am at ML in the midwest and I wear a suit everyday. If you look like a chump, you will be perceived as one. I guess some companies don't care about professionalism.

[/quote]

Yeah, but you're a professional.  This forum is teeming, absolutely teeming, with goofballs who will tell you that if you wear a suit you're going to offend your clients because they wear casual clothes.

Not a one of them is doing numbers large enough to make it at Merrill, but they figure they've got all the answers.

It is to laugh.

[quote=Big Taco]

I used to wear a suit everyday.  I still do most days.  I've started to lose the tie more and more over the last couple years.  I feel like, being a 30something, that the older clients want a guy in a tie.  But over the years, as I've got to know many clients better, they care less about what I dress like, and value what I do for them.  I don't think I ever show up to work looking like a "chump". 

As far as "some companies" and their dress codes:  I believe the employee advisors (P1) have a dress code, which is suit and tie.  I'm P2, own my book, and can dress as I please.  I please to usually wear a suit. 

It really boils down to whatever works.  Some people dress for success with a polo and slacks, some a suit and tie... whatever helps you be successful in your market.

[/quote]

I'm one of those "older guys" who feel that a financial professional should be in a dark suit, starched shirt, clean tie and polished shoes.

If somebody shows up wearing a polo shirt and slacks I won't comment, but Iwon't do business with them.

If I am already doing business with them I'll note the show of disrespect for me as a client. That will make me more susceptible to being enticed to ACAT my account somewhere else.

Never confuse a lack of a negative comment to be the same as a lack of negative thought.

You will never offend an investor by wearing a business suit--even if you're calling on a rancher or a guy out supervising a drilling rig.

That's the beauty, you can do whatever you want. Positioning is mainly in mind, however - we feel that ties and wool are to uncomfortable, and always trying to match our clients style on the business casual side. Having been a sales rep in construction, I think that's really funny that you would wear a suit out to an oil rig. Don't stand too close! My point here about Ameriprise franchise ownership is, you can do whatever you want in your own office. Matching your clients far away from the central office is a huge benefit of decentralization, I'll bet some of the Jones guys get a big kick out of some of the puffed up suits that some snooty wire house guys brag about.

[quote=Devil’sAdvocate]

I'm one of those "older guys" who feel that a financial professional should be in a dark suit, starched shirt, clean tie and polished shoes.

If somebody shows up wearing a polo shirt and slacks I won't comment, but Iwon't do business with them.

If I am already doing business with them I'll note the show of disrespect for me as a client. That will make me more susceptible to being enticed to ACAT my account somewhere else.

Never confuse a lack of a negative comment to be the same as a lack of negative thought.

You will never offend an investor by wearing a business suit--even if you're calling on a rancher or a guy out supervising a drilling rig.

[/quote]

I usually dress in a suit, and I wear a tie much of the time also.  But if someone leaves me because they thought I "disrespected" them with my casual friday shirt and slacks, then good riddance.  I hope they ACAT to some scumbag shuyster in a 3 peice suit with all the accessories.  They deserve each other.

[quote=Big Taco][quote=Devil’sAdvocate]

I'm one of those "older guys" who feel that a financial professional should be in a dark suit, starched shirt, clean tie and polished shoes.

If somebody shows up wearing a polo shirt and slacks I won't comment, but Iwon't do business with them.

If I am already doing business with them I'll note the show of disrespect for me as a client. That will make me more susceptible to being enticed to ACAT my account somewhere else.

Never confuse a lack of a negative comment to be the same as a lack of negative thought.

You will never offend an investor by wearing a business suit--even if you're calling on a rancher or a guy out supervising a drilling rig.

[/quote]

I usually dress in a suit, and I wear a tie much of the time also.  But if someone leaves me because they thought I "disrespected" them with my casual friday shirt and slacks, then good riddance.  I hope they ACAT to some scumbag shuyster in a 3 peice suit with all the accessories.  They deserve each other.

[/quote]

Does that mean that you sometimes wear suits without ties?

[quote=Devil’sAdvocate]

[quote=leftykickserve]

I am at ML in the midwest and I wear a suit everyday. If you look like a chump, you will be perceived as one. I guess some companies don't care about professionalism.

[/quote]

Yeah, but you're a professional.  This forum is teeming, absolutely teeming, with goofballs who will tell you that if you wear a suit you're going to offend your clients because they wear casual clothes.

Not a one of them is doing numbers large enough to make it at Merrill, but they figure they've got all the answers.

It is to laugh.

[/quote]

You have that typical Jersey attitude, no wonder why you work for Smithboring.

Yes, sometimes I wear suits without ties.  If that's a fashion faux pas, I'm okay with it. 

You just look like a Soprano in Friday attire.

[quote=Devil’sAdvocate]

[quote=leftykickserve]

I am at ML in the midwest and I wear a suit everyday. If you look like a chump, you will be perceived as one. I guess some companies don't care about professionalism.

[/quote]

Yeah, but you're a professional.  This forum is teeming, absolutely teeming, with goofballs who will tell you that if you wear a suit you're going to offend your clients because they wear casual clothes.

Not a one of them is doing numbers large enough to make it at Merrill, but they figure they've got all the answers.

It is to laugh.

[/quote]

I'm in my twenties, have never worn a suit, wear shorts more often than ties and manage over 70MM with all age 50 plus clientele.  But I'd never make it at ML because I don't look professional.

I think being good at what you do is more important than how good you look doing it.

Also, I love Ameriprise - I've never met someone who invested there who didn't move all there money to me