Don't go to a regional broker dealer
Seriously, just don't. Unless the plan is to get your licenses and maybe a year of experience before leveraging a spot at a larger firm, don't do it. I cannot stress this enough. You can take it from someone living the life and nearly having a heart attack on this desk.
I have to cold call every person I want to do a trade with, forget having any books or clients opened up for you in the beginning. Almost everyone will ignore you or tell you that they don't want coverage. And, hopefully, you go to one that has a name so people actually know who you are. Because having a PM tell you "I've never heard of you" before hanging up the phone just sucks. Especially when your bosses all have client relationships from their past firm and ridicule you for not "succeeding like them".
Then, after 400+ attempts, you finally get your first big break. You open up a multi-billion dollar investment manager and get your first few trades done with them. They only trade the product your desk trades and are known for being incredibly hard to open. You build a relationship with the PM and analyst and finally start feeling like you're starting to get traction.
then your boss will demand you create a group chat with all of them and just begin dumping all axes into the chat. you still continue to get trades done, chat with them some more on IB, and start to build a strong rapport to where they pick you up immediately, when they are notorious for never opening anyone's messages.
you tee up a trade late one afternoon but it has to wait until the next morning, but you know it will get done. the following morning, you double check your price with your boss and immediately get accosted about talking with them outside of the group chat. you're only allowed to message them in a chat with him in it. you're only allowed to chat with them offline.
on top of all of this, you've still yet to get a single penny of commission on any trade you've done, you're paid 50% below average salary for this role, and your manager makes 20x your salary...
just don't do it.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are the key points about the challenges of working at a regional broker dealer:
In summary, the experience at a regional broker dealer can be highly challenging, with significant pressure, lack of support, and potential compensation issues.
Sources: Getting Started as a Broker, Newbie Financial Advisor: How To Be Successful., Advice for a REIT Analyst Looking to Jump Head-First Into an Investment Sales Brokerage, Does anyone even like investment sales, How PWM really works (part 2): Breaking In, Staying In, and Getting Out
Sounds miserable, sorry to hear that. Hope you find something better.
In the same spot in my career (regional municipal BD), are you still at the firm? If not, where did you go after?
Namedrop
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