But I did want to spend a few minutes talking about how I came to be a financial planner. Back when I was at high school I thought that working in a bank sounded like just about the best thing EVER. No, not a high flyer corporate banker; a teller. Cool.
After leaving university I went and worked in hotel management for a few years, before deciding that my earlier idea of working in a bank (better hours) wasn't too bad after all.
After working in branches for one of the larger banks in Australia for a few years, I bumped into a guy in the staff lunch room. I had seen him around, but had no idea who he was. He seemed to come and go a little bit as he pleased, and wasn't really part of any branch meetings.
After bumping into him a few times, I asked him what he did at the bank. He answered that he was the financial planner for the area. Hmmph. (I had no idea what that meant).
I asked him further about what that meant, (already the inquisitive mind) and he told me that he helped people deal with super, insurance, debt and investment, among other things. I told him that I thought that sounded interesting.
We talked a few more times, and in particular he explained that it WAS an interesting job, but took a lot of continuing education, and updating of your knowedge. He also told me that you had to want to help people. Looking back, I am glad he told me that, becasue, of maybe ALL the advice I have ever received about planning, those ones are right up there.
At that point, I started doing the Diploma of Financial Planning, and 'unofficially' helping him out. I got promoted to a different area of the bank, and then later moved from the bank, when I couldn't progress any further as a planner within their structure. I never bumped into Macca again (he never answered to Macca, as far as I know), but if by some stroke of luck he was reading this, then Thanks.
Do you have something to add. Feel free to comment. I'd love some feedback.
