Nfs411,

I am not an old pro being in the business a little over nine years, but I will give you my insight. 

I don't think I would do anything different.  Every mistake I made has been a growing experience and every thing I have done correctly has been very rewarding.

I think working for a reputable brand name firm is great for starters(Merrill Lynch or Smith Barney). Later on, you can work for a regional or go independent.

I would start your business just like I did mine.  Get on the phone and start dialing.  Referrals and networking come later after years of networking and working with satisfied clients.

I am a CFP.  To obtain a CFP disignation, one must be in the financial industry for a minimal of two years.  Don't worry about the CFP until your fifth or sixth year.  You must build a clientele.

[quote=joeblowyourmama]

Nfs411,

I am not an old pro being in the business a little over nine years, but I will give you my insight. 

I don't think I would do anything different.  Every mistake I made has been a growing experience and every thing I have done correctly has been very rewarding.

I think working for a reputable brand name firm is great for starters(Merrill Lynch or Smith Barney). Later on, you can work for a regional or go independent.

I would start your business just like I did mine.  Get on the phone and start dialing.  Referrals and networking come later after years of networking and working with satisfied clients.

I am a CFP.  To obtain a CFP disignation, one must be in the financial industry for a minimal of two years.  Don't worry about the CFP until your fifth or sixth year.  You must build a clientele.

Im 25 and will join the financial services industry as a FA; the question is really what firm should I choose.

I have been offered a position with AEFA, and am interviewing with UBS, AGE, and MS.

Morgan offered me a position over the phone after the interview and told me they will send an OFFER LETTER in a week or two.

AGE seems very interested, so does UBS.

Which firm would you choose at age 25?

Thanks in advance.

What firm is best in training for new FAs? MS, AGE, UBS?

Forget cold-calling over the phone. Get off your a$$ and go out to meet
business owners at 8am, before the secretary shows up. Tell them you
were in the neighborhood, and you just want to drop off a business card
in case there’s anything you can do for them. Ask if you can call back
in a coupla days. It makes an impression worth 100 cold-calls.

[quote=Sailor25]Forget cold-calling over the phone. Get off your a$$ and go out to meet business owners at 8am, before the secretary shows up. Tell them you were in the neighborhood, and you just want to drop off a business card in case there's anything you can do for them. Ask if you can call back in a coupla days. It makes an impression worth 100 cold-calls. [/quote]

This is SO true.

Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't want to do, and too many advisors don't want to prospect, because they fear rejection, and heaven forbid they actually work up a sweat.