Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › New Financial Representative Job, NW Mutual
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

New Financial Representative Job, NW Mutual

post #1 of 43
12/9/11 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 

Hey Everyone, 

 

I just joined here after a day or two of browsing. I had a few questions about what I should be wearing to my Financial rep job that I just got :) 

 

Anyway, I have three suits. Black, grey and a navy pinstripe. I am also building up my shirt collection, mostly solid shirts. i.e. white, grey, light blue, light green. I would say 3/5 or so of my shirts are french cuffed. They do not have contrast collars and cuffs though. The cuff matches the shirt. I just like the look of french cuffs. 

 

Do you guys think its too "flashy" to wear french cuffs to my job? I haven't seen anyone else wearing them but I haven't really looked and most of the other financial reps are older by at least 10 years. Most of them more. I will definitely be the youngest in the office. 

 

I have always been told, and has worked very well for me in the past, to dress for the job you want, not the one that you have. What is your guy's opinion on this?

 

Also, any recommendation on dress shoes would be greatly appreciated! I want to stop wearing $40 pairs and buy something that will last for me. 

 

Thanks 

 

 

Reply
Reply
post #2 of 43
12/9/11 at 11:43am
All the things you have are Classic Business Attire, I don't see a particular problem

Even with the french cuff, you are just over-thinking

Unless you are going to wear something like him

http://www.whatisjameswearing.com/

Then that will be a problem
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 43
12/9/11 at 11:58am
For that position and your status as the young guy in the office, I would begin shifting my wardrobe toward classic, conservative suits, shirts, and ties. That means replacing the black suit with perhaps a solid navy, as well as ditching the gray and green shirts, over time as your means allow. As the young guy, you are in an awkward position of trying to sell financial expertise to people substantially older than you, so to the extent possible, you'll want your clothing to project that professionalism and expertise that you're working toward.

French cuffs are fine as long as the cuff links are under control.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:12pm
They honestly won't notice if you wear french cuffs or not. They don't care what colors you wear. All they care about is if you can sell, and even then they'll hire pretty much everyone because they know 90% of the people will quit.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:15pm
Don't wear sweaters over French cuff shirts. Every time I see that in my office I lose a year off of my life.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:15pm
Financial Reps are one of the worst jobs out there... pure cold calling; had some friends in college do it for a couple days, then quit....
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by plei89 View Post

Financial Reps are one of the worst jobs out there... pure cold calling; had some friends in college do it for a couple days, then quit....

It's better than an intern for a financial rep. Interns cold call all day with no commission, whereas the financial rep at least has income.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CYstyle View Post

It's better than an intern for a financial rep. Interns cold call all day with no commission, whereas the financial rep at least has income.

Maybe.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElDave View Post

Maybe.

=) true. Potential for income*
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:33pm
+1 to viator. No black suits, no green or grey shirts. Pick up a solid navy suit, solid charcoal suit, and navy blazer. Keep the shirts to white, shades of light blue (none of that frat boy dark blue), and subtle stripes. Start your ties in the Brooks Bros mold - stripes, pin dots. No 50yo is going to buy anything from a punk kid with a black suit, green shirt, green tie, and square-toed Aldo shoes.

Speaking of shoes, scour this site for info on what you can get in in the $150-200 range. The quality isn't the greatest, but for a couple of years you can get by on something like Johnston & Murphy. Or catch Cole Haan on a sale. Get a basic black and basic brown cap toe.
Edited by CousinDonuts - 12/9/11 at 12:45pm
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 43
12/9/11 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CYstyle View Post

=) true. Potential for income*

Given what my friend made working for NW Mutual, the intern spot would've been better (assuming there's an hourly associated with it). Who would've thought that people don't have great faith in the financial thoughts of a 22yo?
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 43
12/9/11 at 1:06pm
What is a financial representative? Is that like the person who tries to get you to open a savings account to go with your checking at your local bank? confused.gif
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 43
12/9/11 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH View Post

What is a financial representative? Is that like the person who tries to get you to open a savings account to go with your checking at your local bank? confused.gif

if he's working for northwestern mutual, he likely has a series 6 license, so he's selling mutual funds and variable insurance products (vuls, annuities, etc) and probably some standard term/whole life insurance.

Tough business at 22 with no real contacts, little financial knowledge, and the "young punk" stereotype.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 43
12/9/11 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 

Hey Everyone,

 

Thanks for all the info. I know it will be a tough road for a little while, but I think I can do it. I have my owned a professional photography business for the past 4 years and it is going great. I have had to overcome the mentality that kids know nothing so many times its not even funny. Most of the time I blow my clients away with the pictures they get, and it actually helps me that I am young in that situation. Kinda funny when you show up to a meet and greet with other photogs and you have better work than the old guys that have been shooting for longer than you have been alive. hehe

 

I realize that selling financial services will be harder, but I have the drive for it. My best friends dad is a higher up there and he was a rep for many years. He said it was difficult at first, but as long as you don't do anything to ruin your reputation and you give your clients what they want, business will flow to you. Its a good start for me, and will show me tons of stuff in the industry and I can make my decision of where I want to go from here. 

 

You guys really think pale colored shirts like green or grey would really be bad to wear meeting with clients? Or a black suit?

 

Dave

Reply
Reply
post #15 of 43
12/9/11 at 4:41pm
Gray is ok imo. Not as good as light blue or white, but it would work with a navy suit and brown grenadine tie.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › New Financial Representative Job, NW Mutual