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The Personality of the typical FA

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Nov 27, 2006 6:20 pm

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

Nov 27, 2006 6:55 pm

Yeah...that is fairly typical, but it's probably also the reason many of these guys/ladies have succeeded is a high failure business.  I'm convinced that I would have had a tough go of it in a wire setting for that reason...it just doesn't mesh very well with my personality.

...and yes...if the camraderie of a wirehouse setting doesn't float your ship, then an independent setting may very well be a good match for you if you have strong relationships with your clients, critical mass to generate sufficient numbers, a mechanism to deal with any non-compete/non-colicit contracts, and the ability to deal with the day to day decisions and tasks involved in running your own shop.  That described me well and thus I am where I am.

Nov 27, 2006 9:17 pm

[quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

In my experience that is the very typical wirehouse atmosphere.
Nov 27, 2006 11:06 pm

....hmmmmm honestly, if their clients could see them after they leave the office.  ME ME ME ME ME.

What goes around comes around.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Nov 28, 2006 1:10 am

I'd also add:  Emotional

Drove me crazy, either everything was roses or it stunk.  Either the market was zooming to the moon or it was crashing and burning.  The roller coaster emotional ride was always draining, even if you tried to stay away from them.  Best part of being independent!

Nov 28, 2006 3:06 am

[quote=joedabrkr]

[quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

In my experience that is the very typical wirehouse atmosphere.
[/quote]

...I know that this fact, if true, would make it very easy to stand out and succeed.  Doing things the Right Way.
Nov 28, 2006 3:09 am

[quote=rightway]

[quote=joedabrkr]

[quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

In my experience that is the very typical wirehouse atmosphere.
[/quote]

...I know that this fact, if true, would make it very easy to stand out and succeed.  Doing things the Right Way.
[/quote]

You betcha!
Nov 29, 2006 2:30 pm

[quote=OldLady]

I'd also add:  Emotional

Drove me crazy, either everything was roses or it stunk.  Either the market was zooming to the moon or it was crashing and burning.  The roller coaster emotional ride was always draining, even if you tried to stay away from them.  Best part of being independent!

[/quote]

TOO FUNNY. One of the jerks talks exactly like that.  Everything that happens to him is the BIGGEST and BEST.  He starts looking at his watch if you dare talk about yourself.

Nov 29, 2006 2:32 pm

 . . oh and if you think these jerks are normal, ethical, and straightforward . .just wait till someone gets fired.

they will run over every one and everything to grab up accounts.

Nov 29, 2006 4:08 pm

[quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

Tired stereotype.

 Our job is to deliver an income to ourselves and our families. That's it, nothing more. We, working without territories are competing for the same clients. We, working in the same office and for the same company, are competing for limited resources. Resources, such as sales help, monetary support, and office space, all of which can help us acheive the prime directive. Personally, I'm not coming to the office to make friends. Who is?  And last time I checked fellow brokers weren't on the list of people who can buy from me. So, they are off limits as far as spending time etc. In fact, within our group we call socializing within the office running for mayor. And from what I can see there are plenty of brokers who are covering that base. I come to the office to work. If someone takes my dedication to the task as being self centered so be it. It is self centered. And my income, which is my only reason for showing up, reflects that.

Tell me, do you care? I mean really care? Have you ever helped a fellow broker in need? Given them money to help them through a tight spot? Given them clients to help their business? I mean good "A" book clients? Have you helped them pay for a seminar or a mailing? Have you worked to help them  by prospecting for them, cold called for them, without sharing in the clients or revenue? Would you give up your sales assistant to another broker? If you haven't done these things then, who are you to be calling others self centered?

Self centered, selfish, self motivated?

Get over it. It's the way it is, the way it has to be.

Nov 29, 2006 8:17 pm

[quote=BondGuy][quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

Tired stereotype.

 Our job is to deliver an income to ourselves and our families. That's it, nothing more. We, working without territories are competing for the same clients. We, working in the same office and for the same company, are competing for limited resources. Resources, such as sales help, monetary support, and office space, all of which can help us acheive the prime directive. Personally, I'm not coming to the office to make friends. Who is?  And last time I checked fellow brokers weren't on the list of people who can buy from me. So, they are off limits as far as spending time etc. In fact, within our group we call socializing within the office running for mayor. And from what I can see there are plenty of brokers who are covering that base. I come to the office to work. If someone takes my dedication to the task as being self centered so be it. It is self centered. And my income, which is my only reason for showing up, reflects that.

Tell me, do you care? I mean really care? Have you ever helped a fellow broker in need? Given them money to help them through a tight spot? Given them clients to help their business? I mean good "A" book clients? Have you helped them pay for a seminar or a mailing? Have you worked to help them  by prospecting for them, cold called for them, without sharing in the clients or revenue? Would you give up your sales assistant to another broker? If you haven't done these things then, who are you to be calling others self centered?

Self centered, selfish, self motivated?

Get over it. It's the way it is, the way it has to be.

[/quote]

the idiot in the mirror speaks.

Go sell a bond.

Nov 29, 2006 11:10 pm

[quote=vbrainy][quote=BondGuy][quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

Tired stereotype.

 Our job is to deliver an income to ourselves and our families. That's it, nothing more. We, working without territories are competing for the same clients. We, working in the same office and for the same company, are competing for limited resources. Resources, such as sales help, monetary support, and office space, all of which can help us acheive the prime directive. Personally, I'm not coming to the office to make friends. Who is?  And last time I checked fellow brokers weren't on the list of people who can buy from me. So, they are off limits as far as spending time etc. In fact, within our group we call socializing within the office running for mayor. And from what I can see there are plenty of brokers who are covering that base. I come to the office to work. If someone takes my dedication to the task as being self centered so be it. It is self centered. And my income, which is my only reason for showing up, reflects that.

Tell me, do you care? I mean really care? Have you ever helped a fellow broker in need? Given them money to help them through a tight spot? Given them clients to help their business? I mean good "A" book clients? Have you helped them pay for a seminar or a mailing? Have you worked to help them  by prospecting for them, cold called for them, without sharing in the clients or revenue? Would you give up your sales assistant to another broker? If you haven't done these things then, who are you to be calling others self centered?

Self centered, selfish, self motivated?

Get over it. It's the way it is, the way it has to be.

[/quote]

the idiot in the mirror speaks.

Go sell a bond.

[/quote]

You might not like what he has to say, but BondGuy is far from an idiot.  You would know that if you'd read some of his past posts.  He has a right to his opinion just as you do.  If he's really acting like an idiot, you have a right(at least to the extent the board censors allow it) to call him out on it.  This would not be one of those times, junior.

The hard reality is that this business is NOT a team sport(unless you are actually on a business team). It's tough to make it and there's always work to be done.  And, when your "buddies" come by to shoot the breeze with you, they might as well be reaching into your pocket and taking some of your bank if they're keeping you from getting on the phone, meeting with a client, or reviewing an account or a research report.  Not to mention, there's plenty of sharks in this business who would sell their mother if they thought they could make a good profit, and are those really the people you want to cultivate as friends?  Maybe "work friends" with whom you have lunch or a cocktail, maybe mentors from whom you learn, but that's about it.

Like Gordon Gekko said to Bud Fox "If you want a friend, get a dog!"
Nov 30, 2006 3:54 am

[QUOTE]

the idiot in the mirror speaks.



Go sell a bond.

[/quote]



V, I’m sorry you don’t like my answer. Working in this biz, as with any

sales career, is not a philanthropic pursuit. We are here to make money

for ourselves, not form a fraternity. That pursuit in itself is self centered.

Personally, I don’t get the people who spend as much time socializing as

they do on the phone or in meetings. Now, that doesn’t mean freindships

can’t form. They do, and we all form them. Still, work isn’t the place to

build those relationships.



I also don’t get people who don’t get the competitive nature of business.

From a pure business POV my job is to put you and every other

competitor out of business. If you are in a business or in a sales career

that is job one. Yet those who do that are called every dirty name in the

book. If I out work or out smart the next guy, just doin my job, how does

that make me anything other than good at what I do? if the competition

isn’t up to the task is that my fault?



Being about work doesn’t mean one has to be an asshole or a jerk. If

somone needs help I willingly give my time. I’ve given rookies, who are

competitors, my complete seminar program. This doesn’t nominate me

for the Mother Theresa Award, rather it balances the scale by giving back

to a business that has given me so much. It also means having rules. One

rule we have is that we will not take an inherited account unless the

broker has left the business. In that case we feel we are providing the

client a service. We’re not here to push any corporate agendas, and the

client ownership rule, while convoluted at the corporte level, is crystal

clear at our level. The broker owns the account. The day I need to call

your clients because you’ve made a career choice that is in your view, in

your best interest, your client’s best interest and your families best

interest, is the day I quit. My manager knows not even to waste my time

by asking.



What does idiot in the mirror mean?



Joe, thanks!

Nov 30, 2006 10:46 am

[quote=vbrainy][quote=BondGuy][quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

Tired stereotype.

 Our job is to deliver an income to ourselves and our families. That's it, nothing more. We, working without territories are competing for the same clients. We, working in the same office and for the same company, are competing for limited resources. Resources, such as sales help, monetary support, and office space, all of which can help us acheive the prime directive. Personally, I'm not coming to the office to make friends. Who is?  And last time I checked fellow brokers weren't on the list of people who can buy from me. So, they are off limits as far as spending time etc. In fact, within our group we call socializing within the office running for mayor. And from what I can see there are plenty of brokers who are covering that base. I come to the office to work. If someone takes my dedication to the task as being self centered so be it. It is self centered. And my income, which is my only reason for showing up, reflects that.

Tell me, do you care? I mean really care? Have you ever helped a fellow broker in need? Given them money to help them through a tight spot? Given them clients to help their business? I mean good "A" book clients? Have you helped them pay for a seminar or a mailing? Have you worked to help them  by prospecting for them, cold called for them, without sharing in the clients or revenue? Would you give up your sales assistant to another broker? If you haven't done these things then, who are you to be calling others self centered?

Self centered, selfish, self motivated?

Get over it. It's the way it is, the way it has to be.

[/quote]

the idiot in the mirror speaks.

Go sell a bond.

[/quote]

You can call me an idiot too, because I rank Bondguy's contributions to this forum at the very top of a very short list.  There are only a couple of people who consistently provide insightful and truly knowledgable information about our business on this forum, and Bondguy is one of those select few.
Nov 30, 2006 2:13 pm

[quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

[/quote]

I'd love to hear more about the magical personality transforming effects of going indy. 

Nov 30, 2006 2:15 pm

[quote=OldLady]

I'd also add:  Emotional

Drove me crazy, either everything was roses or it stunk.  Either the market was zooming to the moon or it was crashing and burning.  The roller coaster emotional ride was always draining, even if you tried to stay away from them.  Best part of being independent!

[/quote]

I hate to burst that bubble, but right here on this forum we have a regular poster who ranks among the most emotional types when it comes to the market I've ever encountered and he's, dare I say it, an indy.

Nov 30, 2006 2:18 pm

[quote=mktsystms] [quote=vbrainy][quote=BondGuy][quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

I'm very normal

[/quote]

Tired stereotype.

 Our job is to deliver an income to ourselves and our families. That's it, nothing more. We, working without territories are competing for the same clients. We, working in the same office and for the same company, are competing for limited resources. Resources, such as sales help, monetary support, and office space, all of which can help us acheive the prime directive. Personally, I'm not coming to the office to make friends. Who is?  And last time I checked fellow brokers weren't on the list of people who can buy from me. So, they are off limits as far as spending time etc. In fact, within our group we call socializing within the office running for mayor. And from what I can see there are plenty of brokers who are covering that base. I come to the office to work. If someone takes my dedication to the task as being self centered so be it. It is self centered. And my income, which is my only reason for showing up, reflects that.

Tell me, do you care? I mean really care? Have you ever helped a fellow broker in need? Given them money to help them through a tight spot? Given them clients to help their business? I mean good "A" book clients? Have you helped them pay for a seminar or a mailing? Have you worked to help them  by prospecting for them, cold called for them, without sharing in the clients or revenue? Would you give up your sales assistant to another broker? If you haven't done these things then, who are you to be calling others self centered?

Self centered, selfish, self motivated?

Get over it. It's the way it is, the way it has to be.

[/quote]

the idiot in the mirror speaks.

Go sell a bond.

[/quote]

You can call me an idiot too, because I rank Bondguy's contributions to this forum at the very top of a very short list.  There are only a couple of people who consistently provide insightful and truly knowledgable information about our business on this forum, and Bondguy is one of those select few.
[/quote]

Ditto. My guess is vbrainy is just having a bad day....

Nov 30, 2006 2:18 pm

[quote=mikebutler222] [quote=vbrainy]

Self centered



Selfish



Self motivated



Could care a rat’s behind about anyone else in the office except

themselves.



Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A’s



[/quote]





I’d love to hear more about the magical personality transforming

effects of going indy.

[/quote]



Mike, I don’t think the poster was saying that going indy made one less

emotional; I think the gist was that as an indy, one is not subject to the

negativity in some wirehouse environments. (I’ve never worked at a wire,

so this is purely an outsider looking in.)
Nov 30, 2006 2:23 pm

[quote=Philo Kvetch] [quote=mikebutler222] [quote=vbrainy]

Self centered


Selfish


Self motivated


Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except
themselves.


Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's


[/quote]



I'd love to hear more about the magical personality transforming
effects of going indy. 

[/quote]

Mike, I don't think the poster was saying that going indy made one less
emotional; I think the gist was that as an indy, one is not subject to the
negativity in some wirehouse environments. (I've never worked at a wire,
so this is purely an outsider looking in.)[/quote]

You could be 100% right. I wasn't thinking that he hoped to escape it by working in a one man office. Then again, he started with the "typical wirehouse broker" screed, so I assumed he meant all other versions of the animal differed.

Nov 30, 2006 2:24 pm

[quote=mikebutler222][quote=vbrainy]

Self centered

Selfish

Self motivated

Could care a rat's behind about anyone else in the office except themselves.

Makes me want to go indy just to get away from all these type A's

[/quote]

I'd love to hear more about the magical personality transforming effects of going indy. 

[/quote]

Ironic isn't it Mike?  All this stuff makes him "want to go indy" when he doesn't have any experience from which to speak.  Yet, he's wise enough to "know" an "idiot" when he sees one.

Truth is that generally I AM happier since going indy because I deal with less political bs.  But, it's not nirvana, just better for me.   In some ways I do work harder because there is some of the extra administrative stuff to do, and more calls from salespeople.  But, I have a little more control over that stuff, at least that's how I feel.