[quote=12345]If you had a month to kill prior to starting your career as a Financial Advisor, how would you spend your time?  Would you spend it studying for your series 7, networking, reading books or compiling information on your target markets. I’m currently in this situation and would appreciate your insight on what you wish you had done more of prior to starting out. Thank you for your responses, all of the information on this website has been very helpful. [/quote]

LOL.  Wow, do you have a shock waiting for you.  The next few years, assuming you even make it that far, are going to be at best, extremely difficult and at worst…well let’s just say keep the ol’ resume handy.

If I was starting over brand new and “had a month to kill” I wouldn’t spend it studying for the 7 or networking.  I’d spend it on the beach (insert favorite vacation spot here) during the day, and trying to see how many Coors Lights I could pile up with as many friends as possible.

You’ve got your whole life to work. 

I’d probably look at porn on the internet.

Some prefer a “party of one” I suppose.

Thanks for the responses but seriously what should I be doing other than drinking and having hand parties?

Quickly go volunteer with some non-profit to become a phone solicitor for donations....

"Welcome to our World!!!"

I would do this, in this order:

Exercise first thing in the morning, with emphasis on aerobic-type exercises, then with some weightlifting thrown in. Either develop your own exercise plan with goals or have someone who is certified in this area of expertise do it for you. Each workout should have, as its goal, to exceed the level of exhaustion of the previous workout, by just a little. Purpose? To extend your endurance to sell, once you're licensed. (If you don't sound "fresh" to a prospect, after putting in an 11-hour day, you won't make the sale.)

After your workout, read books on sales; from cold calling to seminars, for 2-3 hours. Be conscious of what you're reading, don't waste time on "fluff" chapters; which are chapters that contain info that you already know. (Example: I can read a large book in 1-2 hours because I skip "fluff" chapters and go straight to the ones that contain info I want to know.)

Then network and gather info about your target market(s) during prime business hours (usually 8-6). Have as your daily goal, to identify 25 qualified prospects / day. After one month, 25 prospects x 21 business days per month equals 525 warm calls, once you're licensed in 30 days. A very nice start to your career.

Lastly, spend 3-4 hours per night studying for the 7.

I guarantee you (in a business with few guarantees), that if you follow this schedule of activities, in 60 days you'll be recognized as an "up and comer" in your B/D.

[quote=doberman]

I would do this, in this order:

Exercise first thing in the morning, with emphasis on aerobic-type exercises, then with some weightlifting thrown in. Either develop your own exercise plan with goals or have someone who is certified in this area of expertise do it for you. Each workout should have, as its goal, to exceed the level of exhaustion of the previous workout, by just a little. Purpose? To extend your endurance to sell, once you're licensed. (If you don't sound "fresh" to a prospect, after putting in an 11-hour day, you won't make the sale.)

After your workout, read books on sales; from cold calling to seminars, for 2-3 hours. Be conscious of what you're reading, don't waste time on "fluff" chapters; which are chapters that contain info that you already know. (Example: I can read a large book in 1-2 hours because I skip "fluff" chapters and go straight to the ones that contain info I want to know.)

Then network and gather info about your target market(s) during prime business hours (usually 8-6). Have as your daily goal, to identify 25 qualified prospects / day. After one month, 25 prospects x 21 business days per month equals 525 warm calls, once you're licensed in 30 days. A very nice start to your career.

Lastly, spend 3-4 hours per night studying for the 7.

I guarantee you (in a business with few guarantees), that if you follow this schedule of activities, in 60 days you'll be recognized as an "up and comer" in your B/D.

[/quote]

This is the exact type of response I was looking for. I already exercise five days a week and completely recognize it's importance in this type of career.

Is there any specific sales books you could recommend?

I should have been clearer about my timeline. My first day of work is in a month, which will be followed by about three months of licensing. I will have to be very passive about my networking being that as of today I am not even working yet and I don't think I want advertise the fact that I am completely new to this field. I have all of the Dearborn series 7 study guides which I have been reading for about an hour but I will bump that up to the suggested 3 - 4 hours per night.

Thank you doberman for your advice, I will follow it to a tee!

Dont forget to throw in a couple hand parties and Jack and Cokes while youre at it…

Hey man, for sure get physically in top shape.



Tooo many lazy Americans eat crap and walk around in their fat a$$ pants. Then they wonder why they feel like crap.



Also if you make some good money you want to live long to enjoy it. Its funny each day to hear people say how can you have so much energy. You say well I am “x” should I act as if I am dying.



Think of it as boot camp. I swear I did this and stayed active with numerous non-profits. The seeds are planted and the fruit is rising.

Bank FC and Bobby Hull were giving sarcastic, yet serious answers. 

If you are going to succeed, this is going to be the last time for a long time that you'll just have some time to chill out and enjoy yourself.  Take advantage.  Do things that you enjoy doing.  If they are productive, great.  If not, that's fine also.

If you want to jam annuities and insurance, drink and watch porn. If you plan to be more consultative and professional, start walking around to small businesses and making some connections now. ( Obviously be careful how you represent yourself.)

It will be harder to get out of the office once the game starts. Take advantage and find how it feels to get good at making a lot of personal connections that can be followed up in leads. In person, not "cold calling" on the telephone. You'll being doing plenty of that later.

You have the rest of your life to party. If you know anything at all about about mental imaging and success, the notion of having a month to kill is silly. Would you wait a month before grooving your body to perform any sport? If you have time and want to be successful, start doing things that will make you successful now. This is a business about creating relationships, and real clients, not people you will jam and move on. You don't have a minute to waste.

Either you have the social skills and drive or you don't. Wasting time on studying sales theory or getting your body into a physical condition that can't be maintained won't help. Get moving and succeed.

[quote=silouette]

If you want to jam annuities and insurance, drink and watch porn. If you plan to be more consultative and professional, start walking around to small businesses and making some connections now. ( Obviously be careful how you represent yourself.)

It will be harder to get out of the office once the game starts. Take advantage and find how it feels to get good at making a lot of personal connections that can be followed up in leads. In person, not "cold calling" on the telephone. You'll being doing plenty of that later.

You have the rest of your life to party. If you know anything at all about about mental imaging and success, the notion of having a month to kill is silly. Would you wait a month before grooving your body to perform any sport? If you have time and want to be successful, start doing things that will make you successful now. This is a business about creating relationships, and real clients, not people you will jam and move on. You don't have a minute to waste.

Either you have the social skills and drive or you don't. Wasting time on studying sales theory or getting your body into a physical condition that can't be maintained won't help. Get moving and succeed.

[/quote]

Making personal connections based on my social skills is easy. It is something that comes very natural to me. I have built two successful businesses based on that. I have to disagree with you in regards to "wasting time studying sales theory or getting your body into physical condition" clearly you don't understand the direct correlation of physical fitness and the sales career. Being a good salesman requires confidence and exercise is one of the easiest ways to attain that, it is also one of the easiest ways to alleviate stress. You should check it out. You might be surprised at the positive impact it will make in your business.

I also have no plan to "jam and move on." I am looking to make long lasting relationships that will be profitable over time. My ethical standards would not work with the "jam and move on" technique.

Even though I disagree with some of your advice I greatly appreciate your help.Thanks.

[quote=anonymous]

Bank FC and Bobby Hull were giving sarcastic, yet serious answers. 

If you are going to succeed, this is going to be the last time for a long time that you'll just have some time to chill out and enjoy yourself.  Take advantage.  Do things that you enjoy doing.  If they are productive, great.  If not, that's fine also.

[/quote]

I hear you, I'm sure I'll squeeze quite a few rounds of golf in within the next month. Thanks.

[quote=silouette]

If you want to jam annuities and insurance, drink and watch porn. If you plan to be more consultative and professional, start walking around to small businesses and making some connections now. ( Obviously be careful how you represent yourself.)

It will be harder to get out of the office once the game starts. Take advantage and find how it feels to get good at making a lot of personal connections that can be followed up in leads. In person, not "cold calling" on the telephone. You'll being doing plenty of that later.

You have the rest of your life to party. If you know anything at all about about mental imaging and success, the notion of having a month to kill is silly. Would you wait a month before grooving your body to perform any sport? If you have time and want to be successful, start doing things that will make you successful now. This is a business about creating relationships, and real clients, not people you will jam and move on. You don't have a minute to waste.

Either you have the social skills and drive or you don't. Wasting time on studying sales theory or getting your body into a physical condition that can't be maintained won't help. Get moving and succeed.

Wow, how about being a little defensive. Do you jam annuities? Or just pile beer cans on the beach? Better think if you want to protect the integrity of that little screen name.

Actually I was thinking of a different screen name when I wrote that first sentence. It knows who it is.

Hey 1-5, I was happy to give you a little of my time. I'm sure you'll find success.

"Or just pile beer cans on the beach?"

I like to drink and pile beer cans on the beach..... Thats my pleasure!

Would you rather have a cigar and a beer on the beach or an annuity and a dougnut at  the bank.

As someone 4 years into this career, I would highly suggest that you spend a fair amount of time relaxing and doing stuff you enjoy.  Working out is important, but that shouldn't be the only time you take for yourself this month.  I only took one week long vacation out of the office in my first 3 1/2 years, and I probably shouldn't have taken that. 

If your training program is mediocre or better, you should have plenty of time to master your series 7 materials, it isn't a cake walk but if we are being honest here it isn't exactly rocket science either.

The burn out factor is more likely to contribute to your failure, you are going to be going 100 mph for the next 3 years.  Take time to enjoy yourself while you can.

Actually I'd prefer a 20 year EIA with a monthly cap from a "SENIOR INCOME SPECIALIST" like silouette.

I guess if you bring in a million in AUM with those hefty commissions a year your pretty much set huh? 

And yes, I do like beer on the beach.  I know it's hard, but try hard to remember those days when your life was actually fun.