Career Help....

[Andrew_G]

I am a 26 year old with a BS in accounting (Big 4 experience) and soon to be recipient of a Master's in Financial Planning from Georgia State University (3/98).

When I originally left the then Big 6, I had visions of obtaining the most comprehensive understanding of financial planning (on a Master's level)---which I did, coupled with the subsequent recognition from a career standpoint on the value of the knowledge obtained ---which I didn't...(not yet at least). Several posters have previously entertained the idea of obtaining a "competent" admin. assistant..Where to look? Who to call?..etc. And here lies my dilema, as I have found that without industry experience, this is the only place where I might find a respectable job (non-cold calling environment, no limitation of fund selection (IDS) etc, no brandishing as coming from the wrong environment (product pushers...) Guess what?...I have no problem with this, as I think that any future-to-be planner worth his/her salt should jump at the opportunity to position themselves under the "wing" of a qualified planner.

What I do have a problem with is the fact that I am moving to NYC in march of '98 and don't know where to begin when it comes to finding the right group to work for with the "right" kinds of working conditions. On top of that, I am very wary of the established planner who only needs an admin assistant but wants to get someone like myself at an admin price. Please don't get me wrong, as I do not think I should be paid large sums of money for what I know (which is entirely academic + 5 yrs investing experience), but I do think that I am worth more than $20,000K per year. So while I like the idea of a small planning environment to work under, I am concerned over the "value" I am perceived to have when it comes to the overall practice picture. I have a few classmates who have gone with the Progressions group out of MetLife who have faired very well, and I have another who was placed inside a large bank in their trust department. But, as of yet I have not heard of anyone who has successfully placed themselves in a small planning group environment with the appropriate level of compensation in tow.
Any comments?
Thank you in advance.

[nancfp]

Andrew,

this may simply be a semantics problem, but it seems to me you should be looking for a small firm that wants to
expand by having more planners. I'm a sole practitioner who considers my paraplanner (or "administrative assistant") my right
arm! I don't know what I'd do without her! However, her duties are not those of a financial planner, nor will they ever be. On
the other hand, if I were looking to expand, I'd want someone who could help me generate business, and could share in the
growth -- create their own income as they acquired the experience. Why not try to go at your job search with the idea of what
you could bring to a small firm to enhance their business?

[Sicklers]

: Andrew,

It sounds to me you don't want a job as an admin. assist. but are looking to break into the financial planning arena.

I can tell you from my own experience that going to a large firm like Prudential/First Investor was not what I was looking for mainly for the reasons you all ready mentioned. Don't get me wrong they are both great companines but like yourself I was looking for a mentor and a relationship that would be beneficial to me and the people I serve. The firm I joined may just suite your current needs.

It is a family run financial planning firm located in Fair Lawn NJ, we are licensed in roughly 48 out of the 50 states and have reg reps in many of those states. We have a number of reps who live in NYC. The support I get is unreal, The CEO or any other head of the company will go on calls if I need them or their help in any planning matter. The provide constant training. They own their own mortgage company and insurance agency. We aslo have access to a full service brokerage frim. If your interested in learning more contact me at sicklers@bellatlantic.net or you can call me at 1-800-256-3863 ex.219

We are always looking for new planners and you sound like you'd fit in perfectly.

Good Luck

Ken Sickler