Calling all financial advisors
 

I have had an interesting proposal tonight from a family member.

To paint a picture.

I work on the oil rigs 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.

When i am home the wife is at work and the wee man is at school, i get bored as hell and have been looking at trying to get a second job for my time off.

As i have an interest in the property game with a fair few buy to let flats i thought about estate agency or Mortgage advisor.

Said family friend has offered me a job as a Mortgage consultant at her very busy company.

She has offered to pay me through my CeMap and CeFA to get me qualified.

So what i am looking for from guys/gals already working in the industry is a run down and honest opinion on the job as a whole.

How hard are the exams going to be and what is the best route to passing them, I.E. intensive 5 day blocks or distance learning etc.

Is the market saturated? If i decide after a period of being qualified to go it alone what are the prospects like as a self employed IFA/mortgage bod?

I suppose my final aim would be to make it viable enough to jack in the offshore game and be at home with the kids where i belong.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edited to add that i have done insurance sales over the phone so have an understanding of the sales process and pressures

Regards

ScottyB

[Edited on 30-11-2005 by ScottyB]

I am not an IFA but have a couple of friends/clients who are. They seem to be doing pretty well still.

My wife did CeMAP and had no problem with it. She did not go further as we had kids.

i would defo recommend the intensive course for cemap so you can book your exam on the back of that.
the actual exams are multi choice at your local driving centre.

the 1st is the hardest (financial law) especially if you have not studied for a while.
the remaining two can be taken during employment and are easier as they are based more on product knowledge and experience.

The trickiest thing is that they intentially try to mislead you in the question (use of double negatitives etc...)

I used an old Army term.. RTFQ...READ THE F*****G QUESTION:D

Once your brain is in gear, i found them relatively achievable to pass 1st time.

Good luck!

Thanks for the words of wisdom folks.

I see you are ex mob as well rev.

The old RTFQ, along with a few others i can remember........

Can you remember the old 7 P's????

Regards

ScottyB

are you referring to the '**** poor preperation' one?

I do smile when i think of the amount of rubbish that would be inflicted on my poor ears:D

Those were the days eh? went paintballing recently and me and an old buddy from Bosnia found our 'stalking' training most handy!
:D
not too sure that the group of 16 yr olds we played against were though:bouncy:

That's the one............

Did my RSI course and had the sound of the instructor saying it in my head for months afterwards.

Did the Bosnia thing as well, 24 Air Mobile ******** back in 95. Spent 6 months in GV and then a further 6 months in Ploce in Croatia. Awesome tour, ended up biffing half the locals!!

:lol:

Them were the days!

I was in the marine cadets for a couple years - does that count?

Ah, those were the days :P

Bah .. medics, you wanted to be in Signals if you were 'ard ;)

:pig:

Dada Ditt Ditt to you too TP.

Signals......................na no thanks, i actually passed the entrance exam to join up:P

I was an IFA, and the District manager for a large home service Insurance Company, in a finacial services career that lasted 15 years. Cemap should'nt present any problem but the industry regulation will drive you up the wall. Assuming you are competent and can get on with people in a sales environment, then the success of the job will be down to the quality and supply of leads. Mortgages are probably the best section of financial services to get into right now so good luck. :burn: