Interview at Smith Barney

What did they tell you after the interview? Did you make a follow up appointment?

Well, I did ask what the next step was and the assistant BOM told me they would contact me next week after the assistant speaks with the BOM (he is out of town till next Monday). 

I also filled out some paperwork as well…your basic credit and background check, NASD stuff and employment history. 

I’ve interviewed with other wirehouses and I honestly don’t want to be any where else but Smith Barney.    I’m just very anxious to learn about this position. 

They didn’t ask me to do a background check until they had decided to offer me the posistion. You probably are going to get an offer. Have they spoken about salary yet?

Have they mentioned your start date yet??



If not, you may want to find out. SB has been very backed up in their training classes.



Even if they offer you a position, it may be early in 2009 before you can start.

Salary nor start date has been discussed yet, there has been no formal offer yet.  All I have done thus far is take a test, fill out the paper that I mentioned and met with the BOM and assistant. 

Training classes are backed up till the beginning of the year??? 

If you are not licensed yet, you will go through a four-month licensing and training period anyway.  So you’re looking at beginning of year for production.

Training classes are backed up till the beginning of the year??? 

If you are not licensed yet, you will go through a four-month licensing and training period anyway.  So you’re looking at beginning of year for production.

Actually I am licensed.  How come they are so backed up??  A lot of new hirings??

well if you are licensed, then it may not apply to you at all.

One other thing, isn’t each individual branch slotted a certain amount of “seats” for training?  Another words, I was under the impression that each branch is allowed to hire X amount of people during a year. 

So bankroll which program did you wash out of already?

I didn’t “wash out of” any program.  Unfortunately the company I was with was not the right fit for me.  I was recruited by them and gave them a shot, like I said unfortunately, the company was not for me.  

When I was hired my BOM simply said: How are you going to build your business? I would recommend going in with a solid business plan- something creative other then saying you’re going to cold call he yellow pages.

I agree jtx.  Cold calling is definitely a big part, but I also said that networking outside the office (Chamber, seminars, rotary clubs etc) is also essential in building your business. 

 

You’re not thinking outside the box yet. There’s a reason why 90% of new brokers fail. Have you ever been to one of those meetings? It’s not a bunch of qualified prospects waiting to be approach by an FA- it’s a room filled with business owners pitching their business, life insurance salesmen, and brokers.

Jtx,

Yes it is people pitching their business or selling life insurance…or whatever it might be.  The point is that you are networking and meeting new people in your area.  Those business people by the way need an FA.

The point of going to those meetings is not to sell them something right then and there.  Its making new contacts and connections and hoping that down the road, those people will see you’re trustworthy and work with you. 

By the way, the Chamber in my city has hundreds of members that attend events on a regular basis.  Out of all the people that I’ve met only 4 are brokers and the majority are lawyers and business owners. 

What is your idea of thinking outside the box?? doorknocking, going to someones place of business, putting a banner on a plane, running down the street with your company logo painted on your chest?? 

I’m curious to see what has worked for you. 

haha- Nice, I like the stripper idea. Clients can slide thier credit cards down her backside! I’m sure every chamber is different. If that works then run with it. My firms pretty strict about advertising, not sure if I cold get the plane or the stripper pre-approved.

haha- Nice, I like the stripper idea. Clients can slide thier credit cards down her backside! I’m sure every chamber is different. If that works then run with it. My firms pretty strict about advertising, not sure if I cold get the plane or the stripper pre-approved.

jtx25 - always willing to listen to new ideas and not being a smart. Perhaps you can share with the members your NEW methods? I would suggest that most members would be quite open to your ideas/concepts.

Have you ever heard of a Qualified Intermediary or faciliating a 1031 exchange? I got involved in a local charity, they actually had 10 million sitting in a trust department in a local bank, no investment policy statement, no spending policy, etc. etc. That was my recent success…I didn’t “invent” anything or even re-invent the wheel…but I just try and find ways where people have come into money and that other FA’s haven’t considered calling.

Another one- I found out who the real estate developers are in your town, they will always do a lot of buying and selling, introduce them to your lawer( if you network with one)…they always have tons of cash sitting in the bank from time to time, great opportunity to do some short term investment and begin a relationship. Now Gentlemen, I can’t give away all of my secrets… =)

[quote=bankroll]Jtx,

Yes it is people pitching their business or selling life insurance…or whatever it might be.  The point is that you are networking and meeting new people in your area.  Those business people by the way need an FA.

The point of going to those meetings is not to sell them something right then and there.  Its making new contacts and connections and hoping that down the road, those people will see you’re trustworthy and work with you. 

By the way, the Chamber in my city has hundreds of members that attend events on a regular basis.  Out of all the people that I’ve met only 4 are brokers and the majority are lawyers and business owners. 

What is your idea of thinking outside the box?? doorknocking, going to someones place of business, putting a banner on a plane, running down the street with your company logo painted on your chest?? 

I’m curious to see what has worked for you.