Throughout the past four weeks, I had the incredible opportunity to learn from the highly accomplished financial advising firm, Equitable Advisors. Their expertise and dedication to their clients truly exemplify what it means to be successful in this field.
During this externship, I had the privilege of learning directly from seasoned financial professionals at Equitable Advisors in Bellevue, Washington. This specific branch manages over five billion dollars in assets and has earned four Gold President's Trophies, recognizing outstanding performance and excellence in financial advisory services. Through this process, I discovered that being a great financial advisor requires a diverse set of skills. Not only are analytical abilities crucial, but strong communication skills are equally important. Here are four of the key skill sets we focused on:
Analytical Skills: I gained a deeper understanding of financial statements, learned how to evaluate investment opportunities, and assessed risks effectively.
Communication Skills: I learned how to build trust with clients, explain complex concepts clearly and understandably, and listen effectively to address client needs.
Technical skills: I learned about financial software, expanded my knowledge of various financial products, and understood the importance of regulatory compliance.
Strategic Planning Skills: I learned to set realistic financial goals, manage investment portfolios, and provide tax-efficient strategies.
One of the highlights of my experience was witnessing a cold call with a potential client. It was eye-opening to see the level of professionalism and strategic thinking that goes into these interactions while keeping it simple for clients to understand. I also saw firsthand the importance of building relationships to gain trust with both potential and returning clients.
This externship has been an amazing first look into the career of financial advising, and I am immensely excited to learn more through this firm in the future. With minimal prior knowledge of this field, I am eager to apply what I’ve learned and possibly pursue it as a future career. I want to thank Equitable Advisors for this experience and, more specifically, Cole S. Weaver and Loren Lo, for their guidance and for making this such a rewarding experience!
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