From my own experience, the hiring process with SB is very similar to ML, and very different from EDJ.  I like that at EDJ you know exactly what’s going to be happening next.  At ML and SB the hiring process I went through seemed to be up to the BOM or Hiring Manager.  At both firms I went in several time, met with the BOM, met with a few advisors, went to lunch a few times with some of the advisors, and waited for an answer.  From what I’ve seen and heard the starting salary at both is anywhere from $40k to $80k depending on where you’re coming from (I’m sure it also depends on your location). 

You mentioned you’d wait after meeting or having lunch.  Were you asking what the next step is from here?  Just curious to see if Smith Barney lets you know what the next step is after having the first or second interview. 

I had 3 phone interviews w/EDJ plus 2 face to face interviews.  Total its been like 1 1/2 months since I started the process with them. 

I really would like to know if there is a “type” that Smith Barney looks for and the average time frame from first interview to getting an offer is. 

Yeah, I always asked what the next step would be, if I should follow up with them, and if not how long they thought it would be until I heard back from them.  At both ML and SB it was about 5 visits total of meeting with different people and going out to lunch. 

Did you actually get offers from SB or ML?  

Yes.

I can confirm everything OldSpice is saying.

The hiring process at SB or Merrill is up to the local manager.  At SB, each office has a branch manager; at Merrill, there is an area manager responsible for at least three branches.

I was offered positions at both.  I was coming from the independent channel with a Series 6 and 63, but I was somewhat successful in selling mutual funds and annuities.  I chose SB, and still think it was a great move for me.

A key thing to remember is that wirehouses are a lot more alike than they are different.  Even the grids don’t matter much, especially in the early years when you’re trying to build your book of business, and get your gross up.  So it’s very, very important to be completely comfortable with your manager, and with the other FA’s you’ll be working with every day.  It’s a tough business, and tougher still if you don’t feel as if you’re getting along very well with the folks you work with. 

That said, it’s the greatest business in the whole world.  Most of us simply can’t imagine wanting to do anything else.  Good luck.

Yes.  I spent the first two months basically just studying for my 7.  I already had my 63, so they had me get my 65.  Oddly enough, just four days after I signed on with SB, Hurricane Katrina came through and put our offices 10 feet underwater.  They moved our operations briefly to another branch, but I would’ve gotten in everyone’s way, so they told me just to stay home and study for two months.
Assuming you won’t have a once-in-a-century storm wipe out YOUR offices, you’ll be going in about 8:30 in the morning to study for your exams, and visit with other departments to see how operations go.  Then after you pass your 7 and 66, it’s off to Warren, NJ for a couple of weeks, then you start production.

[quote=Bodysurf]Yes.  I spent the first two months basically just studying for my 7.  I already had my 63, so they had me get my 65.  Oddly enough, just four days after I signed on with SB, Hurricane Katrina came through and put our offices 10 feet underwater.  They moved our operations briefly to another branch, but I would’ve gotten in everyone’s way, so they told me just to stay home and study for two months.
Assuming you won’t have a once-in-a-century storm wipe out YOUR offices, you’ll be going in about 8:30 in the morning to study for your exams, and visit with other departments to see how operations go.  Then after you pass your 7 and 66, it’s off to Warren, NJ for a couple of weeks, then you start production.

[/quote]


What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

[quote=GWB43]

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

[quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43]

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

[quote=GWB43] [quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43]

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

[quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43] [quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43]

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

[quote=GWB43] [quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43] [quote=snaggletooth][quote=GWB43]

What iz da hiring procedure dere?
What iz da Series 7?
Can someone like me pass it?

I need uh job… w0rd!

I see a decent thread has gotten hijacked with a bunch of unnecessary racial stereotypes

Whenz dat cornbread gun be reddy?

[quote=snaggletooth]Whenz dat cornbread gun be reddy?