Career switch

BioFreeze, back off.



He obviously knows all kinds of stuff. Like how to manipulate time with his keen intellect.

BioFreeze, back off.

He obviously knows all kinds of stuff. Like how to manipulate time with his keen intellect.

 If you want specifics I was 22 3/4 when hired.  Was in the business for a year and a half and left  when I was 24, hence the six years.  Also had a short stint with Bank One. But I didn’t want to mention that  A bank simply wasn’t for me.

So let me get this straight, you failed at AXA, and some other company I never heard of, then you failed at a bank(is that even possible, Ron?), But you think you want to get back into the industry after 6 years?



Stay where you are don’t jeopardize your future

Isn’t AEFA “American Express Financial Advisors”?



Btw chief - you are missing the point. This guy is already talking about “landing” people and being smarter than people who have been in the business longer. He could be our replacement Wind!



“No joke!”

Morean, hold on. I never insinuated that I was smarter than anyone in the business. I’ve re-read my original post and nowhere does it state that I am smarter. In fact it becuase I did value some of your opinions, that I came here for advise. Instead I some people are too arrogant to help a prospective advisor out.  I did state that a 22 yr old with 6 months experience is not fit to be a manager(what I had at AXA), but that is not telling you I am smarted than any of you.

Sorry Morean… I hated windy, i had to scroll through all those posts just to find something useful…

Tenacious…first of all if you are looking for ADVICE, I would agree with you that people who don’t succeed at first should try again, but you failed 3x.(ok the bank position looks like more of a personal banker, but still by your own admission “at times investment goals”). Also you talk about bank haircuts like it matters to someone like you who couldn’t hit the goals anyway. I hate to be blunt, but everyone and their mother has decided the last time they tried to be an advisor and they didn’t make it was for some reason beyond their control…

[quote=chief123] Sorry Morean… I hated windy, i had to scroll through all those posts just to find something useful…

Tenacious…first of all if you are looking for ADVICE, I would agree with you that people who don’t succeed at first should try again, but you failed 3x.(ok the bank position looks like more of a personal banker, but still by your own admission “at times investment goals”). Also you talk about bank haircuts like it matters to someone like you who couldn’t hit the goals anyway. I hate to be blunt, but everyone and their mother has decided the last time they tried to be an advisor and they didn’t make it was for some reason beyond their control…[/quote]



Fair enough. Most people hated Windy.

[quote=tenacious] Morean, hold on. I never insinuated that I was smarter than anyone in the business. I’ve re-read my original post and nowhere does it state that I am smarter. In fact it becuase I did value some of your opinions, that I came here for advise. Instead I some people are too arrogant to help a prospective advisor out. I did state that a 22 yr old with 6 months experience is not fit to be a manager(what I had at AXA), but that is not telling you I am smarted than any of you.

I think you should have learned that posting on this forum for advice is a big mistake because it is filled with a bunch of self righteous A-Holes that are more worried about a silly typo than helping out an Advisor who is humbly asking for assistance!  I don’t really have any good advice for you in your particular situation but wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose. 

Moraen, maybe I should have sold more VUL's and toughed it out. Just kidding.  I have learned from my mistakes. You can say that I failed three times, blah, blah, but I believe that it just wasn't the right time for me, because I wasn't tenacious enough, small natural market, I didn't do enough to see more people , etc. All of things that I know can and have been corrected with more experince in the real world. In the end I will apply to companies and have them decide if they want me. 

The mutual  insurance companies Mass Mutual New York Life Guardian NWM have great products, and great training and you will be able to do the right thing you dont have to sell VUL etc. However they will want you to focus on selling insurance products not investments after all they are an insurance company not investment company so the training on investments are minimal to say the least, So if your main focus is to sell insurance and some investments on the side these companies would be a right fit for you, I hope this helps, all the best

[quote=tenacious]

Moraen, maybe I should have sold more VUL's and toughed it out. Just kidding.  I have learned from my mistakes. You can say that I failed three times, blah, blah, but I believe that it just wasn't the right time for me, because I wasn't tenacious enough, small natural market, I didn't do enough to see more people , etc. All of things that I know can and have been corrected with more experince in the real world. In the end I will apply to companies and have them decide if they want me. [/quote]

This is a marvelous business to be in.  Where else can you invest nothing but your time and get so much in return (personally, professionally, and financially).  As a 15 year veteran, my best advise would be to make sure you always place your clients interest first and you will be hansomely rewarded.

Thanks, Happy, Ambitious and other positive posters.  And to chief and moraen, believe it or not, I believe that is exactly how I suspect some people are going to react. Your comments will prepare to better respond to the past. 
As for 3rdyr, you are right I brought a big client and no VUL, GDC quota was covered. Hell, GDC quota was covered for a while. You know what I mean. But it doesn’t last long and it drops before you know it. Which explains why we offered a single guy a VUL. In a way, my manager was trying to save me. I honestly decided to not be a part of that. But if I  had developed a bigger natural market/Center of Influence/community associations, worked the phones on Friday/Saturday evenings, pounded the pavement, etc. Perhaps it would have never gotten to that point. But that is the past, I have no regrets because it has led to this point in life. But I have worked hard to build a network, not because I knew I would return to business, but rather to quote Harvey Mackey, “who would you call at 2 a.m and ask for 20K?” I have a RE agent who I have been sending business for the past 3 yrs. Every person I have referred, he has closed. Same can be said about P&C insurance agent, mortgage broker, etc. I have worked to help my community, alumni-both HS and college. I now have real world experience, I now know what it means to have a mortgage, private school, car notes, and be able to relate to the person across the table.
I’ll admit that age and a small natural market did not stop others be successful, but it was a major setback for me. Just like a person with a huge natural market and experience is not guaranteed success. I am not the same person as when I was 22-24, so it is not fair to say that is not for me.

[quote=tenacious] Thanks, Happy, Ambitious and other positive posters. And to chief and moraen, believe it or not, I believe that is exactly how I suspect some people are going to react. Your comments will prepare to better respond to the past. As for 3rdyr, you are right I brought a big client and no VUL, GDC quota was covered. Hell, GDC quota was covered for a while. You know what I mean. But it doesn’t last long and it drops before you know it. Which explains why we offered a single guy a VUL. In a way, my manager was trying to save me. I honestly decided to not be a part of that. But if I had developed a bigger natural market/Center of Influence/community associations, worked the phones on Friday/Saturday evenings, pounded the pavement, etc. Perhaps it would have never gotten to that point. But that is the past, I have no regrets because it has led to this point in life. But I have worked hard to build a network, not because I knew I would return to business, but rather to quote Harvey Mackey, “who would you call at 2 a.m and ask for 20K?” I have a RE agent who I have been sending business for the past 3 yrs. Every person I have referred, he has closed. Same can be said about P&C insurance agent, mortgage broker, etc. I have worked to help my community, alumni-both HS and college. I now have real world experience, I now know what it means to have a mortgage, private school, car notes, and be able to relate to the person across the table. I’ll admit that age and a small natural market did not stop others be successful, but it was a major setback for me. Just like a person with a huge natural market and experience is not guaranteed success. I am not the same person as when I was 22-24, so it is not fair to say that is not for me.

[/quote]



Ok. I wish you the best of luck. Good, hard-working people have failed at this business. Personally, I don’t think working for a non-profit is a whole lot of “real” world experience (I sit on a couple of boards).



But like I said, good luck.

As for 3rdyr, you are right I brought a big client and no VUL, GDC quota was covered. Hell, GDC quota was covered for a while. You know what I mean. But it doesn’t last long and it drops before you know it. Which explains why we offered a single guy a VUL. In a way, my manager was trying to save me. I honestly decided to not be a part of that.

Ok. I wish you the best of luck. Good, hard-working people have failed at this business. Personally, I don’t think working for a non-profit is a whole lot of “real” world experience (I sit on a couple of boards).

But like I said, good luck.

Boy, don’t presume to lecture me about work. Or real-life experiences. Don’t talk about “trenches”, when you know nothing about sleeping in a hole, pissing into the wind, or dealing with the stresses of life.



You know nothing. You call me ignorant? Your ignorance of this industry and pitfalls that accompany it are pathetic and weak. Yet, that lack of knowledge is a pittance upon what experience you DON’T have.



Higher ups? I have no higher ups. I serve and volunteer for my pleasure alone.



Don’t think for a second you know the first thing about me. Your “tenacity” is a fiction and conceit that you will continue to live with.



I wished you the best of luck after your explanations and you think to insult me?



Go f**k yourself.

What is this the school yard? As for insults, go re-read my post. Not once did I insult you before you came claimed "non-profit work is little real world experience." I stand by my comment because a person who sits on boards should not beiieve that employees of that non-profit are lacking real world experience. That was just a glimpse in to your mentality.

I know you are a failure and that your grammar and spelling are atrocious.



I gave my personal opinion of non-profit employees and volunteers (although I have never been paid by a non-profit, I have volunteered and not just in a board capacity). But twice I wished you the best of luck in that post and you decided to insult me instead.



You gave us information on your past, BOY. What I was trying to tell you is that your non-profit experience does not translate in to what I term the real world. That is an opinion. There is a difference between opinions and facts. My definition of “real-world” is different than yours.



I never threatened violence. It’s the internet. We use words here. Preferably words that make a coherent sentence and that are spelled correctly.

Whoa, whoa, whoa…cooler heads will always prevail.  Moraen, you did give quite the left jab to the chin w/the “Your work doesn’t really constitute real world experience, but good luck anyways!” comment.  I think anyone who read that felt the singe of condescendingness there, but anyways its the internet.  Who cares?

Unbelievable. You are upset that I got the better of you. But the insult came from you; I guess that is a matter of opinion as well. As for my grammar, I agree that I was not careful and did not bother stay within proper English guidelines. It is, after all, just the internet.

You state that you have an opinion what the "real world" is, but never bother to define it. I simply said that having more responsibilities at older age would allow me to empathize with prospective clients a little more. I understand that other younger people overcame that, but I didn't. Of course there were other factors that I have tried to correct.

If you wish to call me a failure to make yourself feel better, go ahead. But I have helped hundreds of families find a better life. I have helped men and women find employment, helped low- income high school seniors apply for scholarships and financial aid. I assure you that those families would not call me a failure. 

Do you give me a hard time simply because I was in the field six years ago? Or do you give everybody wanting to enter the field of financial services a hard time?

Again you throw insults while hiding behind a screen name.

I give everybody entering the financial services industry a hard time. The reason: This is a hard business. Very hard.



Yes, real world experience does include raising children and marriage. Or even without being married.



It doesn’t make me feel any better to call you a failure. Facts seldom cause me to have any sort of emotional reaction. They are facts, after all.



I’m pretty sure you did not get the better of me.



You want to talk about helping families? Ok, here you go. I was in the Army infantry. I spent thirteen months in Iraq helping people. In addition, because of my educational and work history, I was given the task of requesting all monies for infrastructure rebuilding. I wrote more CERPS requests and garnered more money for our brigade than all of the brigades in Iraq. We dug tons of wells, built sixteen schools, and destroyed thousands of unexploded ordinance. We raised money for children who could not get their medical needs met to go to the United States and get the best care possible. Low income kids? The definition does not exist in this country. Our poorest have more access than these children. I did all of that in thirteen months.



All of this, while bleeding, fighting and hoping that our efforts were not in vain. I’ve had to watch helplessly as people who have saved my life died before I could save theirs. I have been shot at, stabbed, shocked and deafened. I am ninety percent disabled from war injuries.



Most non-profits exist in their own little world, with their own little focus. At the end of the day, you go home to your family and say, “this is the good I’ve done”. The “real” world is much more complex than that. It is sacrifice. Compromise. Lack of control. Struggle to survive. Hardship. Love so deep that it is painful. Untimely loss of family and friends. It is dealing with the realities of YOUR world, not that of some “disadvantaged” person.



Another key word, “whole”.   I said that it wasn’t a whole lot of real world experience. I didn’t say none. Non-profits are isolated within the function that they serve. ESPECIALLY the workers and volunteers.



Now, while I was fighting, bleeding and watching my brothers die, what were you doing? Were you there to greet us when we got off of the plane? Were you there at the funerals that I could not attend? Did you help my buddy’s daughter and son pay for college?



I will call you a failure not because you failed those families, because you obviously didn’t. I call you a failure only in the context of this business. Which you did. Maybe it was your youth. But I doubt it. There are people that started in this business younger than when you graduated college and are still in it. It is tough. It is hard.



And when you have a bad day, you don’t get to go home to your family and say, “I REALLY REALLY tried to help this kid get a scholarship. What’s for dinner?”. Because you only get paid if you close.



How is my having a screen name any different than yours?

You guys are nuts.  I’m new here, full disclosure.  But seriously… supposedly experienced, financial professionals that manage MILLIONS of dollars for clients?  And people sit on these boards and poke fun at each other like children.

I never insulted your military career. I used the "trenches" and you spun the word to insinuate that I am insulting the military. That was never my intention, that is a Political/FOX news SPIN tactic. I have the utmost respect for anyone who served in the military. And yes, I have helped veterans, their children, fundraisers for those returning. Coincidently, that was as a volunteer. I thank you for your service. But do not look down on me because my path was different.

Tenacious, I appreciate your drive.  I encourage you to give it  your best shot and prove the skeptics wrong.

[quote=tenacious]

I never insulted your military career. I used the “trenches” and you spun the word to insinuate that I am insulting the military. That was never my intention, that is a Political/FOX news SPIN tactic. I have the utmost respect for anyone who served in the military. And yes, I have helped veterans, their children, fundraisers for those returning. Coincidently, that was as a volunteer. I thank you for your service. But do not look down on me because my path was different.

I will bury it right now. Good luck to you tenacious.[/quote]

[quote=tenacious]

 Political/FOX news SPIN tactic. [/quote]

in many ways, Jones is just like a non-profit.
except, unlike a non-profit, people who don’t do the work get fired.

at least, you’re going to love the technology!

[quote=chief123]I hate to be blunt, but everyone and their mother has decided the last time they tried to be an advisor and they didn’t make it was for some reason beyond their control…[/quote]

I would be a successful advisor today if it wasn’t for my field trainer, Elmer Fudd…

So, I got a call from MSSB today and decided to do a little research on the new culture- post merger. Reading this thread has been like watching a VH1 reality show (or perhaps a “newscast” from Glenn Beck).  I got in this crazy business when I was 21 and managed to scrape together five plus years of MDRT and $120K+ earnings before deciding that I needed a change. Stepped into the other “real world” of B2B sales and have spent the last 2+ years watching companies crumble while I worked 70hr weeks. Life throws some crazy curve balls to people who are busting their balls and the sales world is pretty retarded- always acts like things happen in a vacuum (ex: “yes, boy, your company went under but a good salesman still gets the job done”). Pardon my tangent- back to Tenacious- what I recall about many of the top producers from my past (not telling where I was because some idiot will focus on that, when I know what I am about to say is true across the industry) is that none of them could really explain how they became successful. I know that some of them worked their asses off for years to get where they were, but the majority of them combined some hard work with a lot of luck. As you look behind the egos and curtains, you start seeing that Jim or John or Tucker had a very wealthy family that naturally spent their time with other wealthy families. The webs get thicker along with their tall tales. You never get the truth or good advice because this industry works just like politics- the blowhards take all the credit for the successes that occurred on their watch and blame the last guy for any failures. Essentially, it is full of George Bush types.

If you want back in, trust your intuition and don’t look for anybody else to guide you until they start writing business in your name.

[quote=crossroads]So, I got a call from MSSB today and decided to do a little research on the new culture- post merger. Reading this thread has been like watching a VH1 reality show (or perhaps a “newscast” from Glenn Beck).  I got in this crazy business when I was 21 and managed to scrape together five plus years of MDRT and $120K+ earnings before deciding that I needed a change. Stepped into the other “real world” of B2B sales and have spent the last 2+ years watching companies crumble while I worked 70hr weeks. Life throws some crazy curve balls to people who are busting their balls and the sales world is pretty retarded- always acts like things happen in a vacuum (ex: “yes, boy, your company went under but a good salesman still gets the job done”). Pardon my tangent- back to Tenacious- what I recall about many of the top producers from my past (not telling where I was because some idiot will focus on that, when I know what I am about to say is true across the industry) is that none of them could really explain how they became successful. I know that some of them worked their asses off for years to get where they were, but the majority of them combined some hard work with a lot of luck. As you look behind the egos and curtains, you start seeing that Jim or John or Tucker had a very wealthy family that naturally spent their time with other wealthy families. The webs get thicker along with their tall tales. You never get the truth or good advice because this industry works just like politics- the blowhards take all the credit for the successes that occurred on their watch and blame the last guy for any failures. Essentially, it is full of George Bush types.

If you want back in, trust your intuition and don’t look for anybody else to guide you until they start writing business in your name.
[/quote]

Your mix of ignorant political jabs with your complaining and whining makes this post almost unreadable.  What’s funny is you probably believe you left someone some positive advice. Personally, I want my minute and 40 seconds back…I could have made 5 dials…right! Fred Garvin!!!

No matter what stage you are in your career, you have the ability to scale up and have an amazing career if you just invest enough forethought, time, and focus to design and create a career path with an actionable plan that you can see through.

If anyone here is looking to make a career switch, you might want to consider taking the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam. You do not need a sponsor to take this exam.

As of October 1st of 2018, anyone interested in becoming a financial advisor, will have to take and pass the SIE and a representative level exam such as the series 6 or the series 7 exam.

If anyone is interested in getting a discount on Kaplan materials for the securities industry essentials exam (SIE), the series 7 exam and other exams such as the series 6, 63, 65 and 66 exams, you can use the link below:

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