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Fair Comp?

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Oct 30, 2008 7:54 pm

I’ve accepted a position with a firm who shall remain nameless for now.  I’m part of a new career-changer plan newly rolled out.  There is a base pay of $40k for the first year with a 32% commission payout and a possible additional $19k in bonuses for levels of production. You’d earn all $19k if you do $100k GDC.   The second year your salary drops by $1500 per pay period until it’s down to $24k which remains a salary through the end of year two.  During year two your payout goes to about 46%.  In year three the $24k salary becomes a draw and your payout goes up to a max of 55%.   I’ve looked at the comp plans for several other firms and this seems fairly aggressive to me.  Looking for input from those more experienced with the industry than myself. 
thanks.

Oct 30, 2008 8:01 pm

Employee

Oct 31, 2008 12:09 am

What are your expenses? If you don’t get benefits or have to pay for things normally included as part of employment, then the payout is not really what it seems.

Oct 31, 2008 12:36 am

No expenses really. It’s for a regular employee position, benefits etc included.  Even a marketing budget.

Oct 31, 2008 12:55 pm

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me,

Oct 31, 2008 1:35 pm

Payout of 55% and they pay for everything?  Honestly, it sounds too good to be true.  The only way you get to that payout at most firms is through bonuses at much higher production levels.

Oct 31, 2008 1:47 pm

Well that level of payout isn’t until year three.  I inquired with some people who’ve been there for years and they confirmed it. 

Nov 2, 2008 11:22 am

good comp plan if:

1.  you are actually getting 55% of what you make - many firms take 1% or more off the top "to keep the lights on".  For example, if gross dealer concession on mutual fund is 5%, 4% goes to the 55% grid.  Works out to about 44% real payout.

  2.  you are not selling only proprietary products.   3. there is a ticket charge.  Comes off your take, not the GDC.   my guess is one of those 3 is the case.
Nov 3, 2008 8:56 pm

Hmm, good points. I am fairly certain it is not 3, and I know it is not 2.  I’ll have to inquire about #1 and get back to you.
Thank you for the input. 

Nov 3, 2008 11:59 pm

Here was the reply from someone currently at the firm I’m looking at. 

If it’s 5.75% on the mutual fund, 5% goes to the payout grid.  If it’s
4.50%, 4% goes to the grid.  What ever the .?? is, goes to the company hair
cut on mutual funds.   In wrap it’s .20%, so you price that into your fee.  
So if I want 1%, I charge 1.20% to the client.

I’m not sure how that sounds, is that the norm for the industry?

Nov 5, 2008 5:21 am

Who pays out the highest payouts?

Nov 10, 2008 11:53 pm

"Who pays out the highest payouts? "

You do ....

you may consider that you will gain 100x more $$ by putting your head down and going to work where you are right now. You're a rookie with a great firm. Shake off the negativity (read your other threads) and go to work.
Nov 11, 2008 2:54 pm

That is not a company haircut.  If the commission is 5.75%, .75% goes to the MFD company and 5% goes to the BD.

Nov 11, 2008 6:04 pm

What firm is it? Have never heard of such a plan.

Nov 11, 2008 7:50 pm

Ameriprise. Let the bashing begin.

Nov 11, 2008 8:24 pm

Ameriprise?..

Nov 11, 2008 8:53 pm

Don’t hear much about them, besides their Riversource annuities.

Nov 12, 2008 6:14 am

Still a newbie, can you explain your comment Ice?  Is that a bad thing?

Nov 12, 2008 1:40 pm

Hey ICE nice comment, I'm sure AMP has more wrap accounts then BOA-Merrill,Citi-Sb, and Wachovia-Wells...............

Nov 12, 2008 11:52 pm

Ice,
I read the same article you are talking about.  Can’t remember which industry magazine.  The article broke the numbers down to SMAs, mutual fund wraps, etc.  I also remember being surprised how high they ranked.  Prior to the article I would have thought the same thing as jtx25.  I just would not have typed …  Why did GG ask “still a newbie”?  What the hell does that have to do with your statement about AUM?  Am I missing something here?