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You don’t picture a Financial Planner ballroom dancing anymore than you imagine a ballroom dancer working in a bank! It’s a juxtaposition of the highest order. But that’s been the story of my life.”
1. How long have you been in the role and the industry?
I have been in my current role as a Relationship Manager with ANZ Financial Planning for two and half years, and I have been in the financial planning industry for over ten years.
2. How did you land the job?
I saw that ANZ Financial Planning were advertising a new role for ‘Relationship Managers’ and, seeing that client relations is one of my favourite aspects of financial planning, I applied – successfully!
3. Were you always interested in financial planning?
I was a ballroom dancer and dance instructor in another life, so I wasn’t always interested in financial planning. However, when I first enrolled in my RMIT degree which was a Bachelor of Business in Financial Planning, we had to complete our own financial plan, and I had so much fun doing it that I was instantly hooked on the industry!
4. What is the best part of the job?
The people, there’s no question about it! I enjoy working with both my clients and my fellow ANZ Financial Planning team members – I’m a real people person.
5. What is the worst?
I’m not a huge fan of driving, so sometimes when I have to meet a client and I’m running late I get a bit stressed.
6. What made you decide on this industry and this job?
From the moment I had to complete my first financial plan at RMIT, I was hooked – then and there. I knew instantly that this was the job and industry for me. It was exciting, it was challenging, and above all, it was strategic and useful.
7. What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Never suggest that somebody do something that you wouldn’t do yourself.
8. What advice would you give to people wanting to get into the industry?
My advice would be to read a lot of financial publications, because they are a great way of learning about and keeping abreast of the industry’s major issues, players, and markets. Also, I would recommend to anybody looking towards a career in financial services that they work out which particular sector they want to work in nice and early in their careers.
9. What sort of person would not be good at this job?
Anybody who doesn’t enjoy other people’s company should steer well clear of a career in financial planning! But perhaps more importantly, people who don’t act upon their own advice should also keep away – our industry relies upon considered, honest, and trustworthy advice.
10. How many hours a day do you work on average?
I work approximately ten hours a day these days, although it can vary depending on which clients I’m meeting with and the size of the issues we need to work through, and so on.
11. Do you get a lunch break?
Sometimes! I have crumbs all over my laptop so I guess I eat lunch while I’m working at my desk most days!
12. Any perks?
Other than helping people achieve their lifestyle goals, there’s no perks!
13. When do you see yourself retiring?
I don’t really see myself retiring lock, stock and barrel. I think that I’ll always have a few clients that I look after well after I’ve reached the proposed ‘retirement age’. Having said that, I guess I’ll start winding things back in about 15 or 20 years time.
14. Do you get public holidays off, and do you have to work weekends?
Yes, we get Public Holidays off here at ANZ Financial Planning. In fact, ANZ have a terrific policy, which entitles all staff to take two weeks leave in a row each year – it’s great for staff morale and satisfaction. Having said that, I work a lot of weekends because I have a number of clients who are unable to make time to meet me during the week, but I love helping these guys out and so working with them on weekends is absolutely no trouble at all.
15. What qualifications do you need to get the job?
You need a Diploma in Financial Planning, available from selected universities and tertiary institutions - details from the Financial Planning association. Once this is completed and if you have a degree as well you may study to be a Certified Financial Planner. This is a further qualification and is internationally recognised.
“When all is said and done, I love being a Financial Planner because I get enormous satisfaction out of solving other people’s dilemmas. I always have. When I see a problem, I want to fix it, and as a planner I see lots of them! Over the years I have helped a wonderfully broad social spectrum of clients with their financial management - From elite sports men and women and celebrities, to single middle income earners, divorcees, and family couples … and everything in between. But while the magnitude of these client’s financial difficulties or problems might have differed, my approach to solving them has been, and still is, always the same: cautious, objective, friendly, and helpful.
- Ends -
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