I am in a rural area in California - small town.  The attornies
and CPA’s don’t wear suits.  I’ve had clients tell me that they
like the way I dress compared to the guy at the bank… and these are
large clients.  I basically dress like your typical golf
professional.  Very nice tailored slacks and a pressed golf shirt.



Again, I have to reiterate, I am going indy so I want to create the
kind of atmosphere and reputation that I want.  I will attract the
kind of client who accepts that.  If a client picks the bank guy
over me simply due to the way we are dressed, I probably don’t want
them as a client.  And I am not trying to become a million dollar
producer either.  I will be happy to get to $30m in the next few
years. 



Before anyone gets hostel, I am NOT putting down someone who wears a
suit everyday by choice.  That’s wonderful too… for you.  I
want my clients to get excited about the Luau theme at my upcoming
seminar.  That’s just me.  Our world is changing thanks to
the RIA option, but not everyone has to embrace it.



Oh, and to answer your question, I am young in THE business, but old in
BUSINESS.   It takes a visionary to look outside the
box.  Thanks for your question NASD.

[quote=Ready2Jump]I am in a rural area in California - small town.  The attornies and CPA's don't wear suits.  I've had clients tell me that they like the way I dress compared to the guy at the bank... and these are large clients.  I basically dress like your typical golf professional.  Very nice tailored slacks and a pressed golf shirt.

Again, I have to reiterate, I am going indy so I want to create the kind of atmosphere and reputation that I want.  I will attract the kind of client who accepts that.  If a client picks the bank guy over me simply due to the way we are dressed, I probably don't want them as a client.  And I am not trying to become a million dollar producer either.  I will be happy to get to $30m in the next few years. 

Before anyone gets hostel, I am NOT putting down someone who wears a suit everyday by choice.  That's wonderful too... for you.  I want my clients to get excited about the Luau theme at my upcoming seminar.  That's just me.  Our world is changing thanks to the RIA option, but not everyone has to embrace it.

Oh, and to answer your question, I am young in THE business, but old in BUSINESS.   It takes a visionary to look outside the box.  Thanks for your question NASD.

[/quote]

Speaking of hostels, at your age you'll find places all over Europe where you can share a bath--and it will be cheap and they won't care what you wear.

A broker wearing a suit will never appear to be overdressed.

Period.

Next topic.

[quote=NASD Newbie]

A broker wearing a suit will never appear to be overdressed.

Period.

Next topic.

Yeah, suits are great…BL can we talk about polo shirts? Pleeeeeease?

[quote=Ready2Jump]

Again, I have to reiterate, I am going indy so I want to create the kind of atmosphere and reputation that I want.  I will attract the kind of client who accepts that.  If a client picks the bank guy over me simply due to the way we are dressed, I probably don't want them as a client.  And I am not trying to become a million dollar producer either.  I will be happy to get to $30m in the next few years.

[/quote]

Sounds like you're a sales manager's wet dream.

Who would not want a salesman working for him who didn't want to make much money, and who figures that clients are not really worth getting anyway.

Practice this phrase.  "May I supersize that for you, sir?"

McDee’s!  Now that would be a great place to setup a remote
office.  One of my clients owns 3 of them.  He and his rich
buddies hang out there every morning for a cheap breakfast.  And
the grandma at the counter can’t figure out how to live on the income
from her $500k in CD’s.  Hmmm… sounds tasty to me. 



You sounded very natural saying that line NASD.  Your insight into
our industry has taught me a lot.  You should do this discussion
board for a living… oh, looks like you might be. 



Oh, and my McDee’s owner client… he hates $1000 suit wearing brokers.

I was walking from my car to a client's office, all of 50 feet, when I felt something pop in one of my shoes. The shoe was not a cheap shoe, nor was I wearing a cheap suit, shirt, tie etc. The client I was visiting is into the finer things and would notice anything amiss. What popped was the thread or whatever it is that holds the sole of the shoe to the upper. it all but completely let go. I was beat. No choice but to walk in with one sole flopping. Very impressive!!!!

We dress country club causal on non meeting days, suits for meetings with clients.

[quote=Ready2Jump]

Oh, and my McDee's owner client... he hates $1000 suit wearing brokers.
[/quote]

No he doesn't.

Nobody forms their opinion of somebody because they are wearing clothes that appropriate for the occasion.

As somebody told you, you wear a suit in this business because it shows respect for the business--the responsibilities you are asking to assume.

Go to the library and find a copy of "Dress for Success"--it applies in rural California as well as it does in New York.

[quote=tjc45]

We dress country club causal on non meeting days, suits for meetings with clients.

[/quote]

Lots of places adopted a "dress down Friday" routine.  The real pros kept a suit, starched shirt, tie, etc. hanging in a closet in the office just in case somebody called to say they were coming over in an hour.

My firm's policy was/is that there is a sign at the receptionist desk that says, "Friday's are dress down day at Acme Brokerage" which is simply trying to get the client to understand that we were serious professionals who let our hair down on Fridays.

If you devour the Wall Street Journal you will recall that a few months ago there was a feature regarding how employers are returning to suits everyday.

Mostly out of self defense.  When you tell the bozo sector of society that it's OK to come to work on Friday in "business casual" attire they, the bozo set, will eventually decide that means Twisted Sister World Tour T-shirt and cut offs.

One can never go broke underestimating the standards or intelligence of the average American.

[quote=NASD Newbie]

No he doesn't.

Nobody forms their opinion of somebody because they are wearing clothes that appropriate for the occasion.

As somebody told you, you wear a suit in this business because it shows respect for the business--the responsibilities you are asking to assume.

Go to the library and find a copy of "Dress for Success"--it applies in rural California as well as it does in New York.

[quote=Ready2Jump]

Get over it... you are really showing your age. 

[/quote]

You know something about being older?  We were once punks too, but you have not yet reached adulthood.

[quote=Ready2Jump]

My clients LOVE me.  LOVE me. 

[/quote]

Every mother and grandmother loves her grandchild--get back with us when you get a client who doesn't love you.

If being an adult means wearing a suit everyday against my choice,
prospecting and trying to get every living person as a client, and …
and this is a biggie, having a personality like you NASD, then
Hallelujah!  Glad to be a youthful thinker in my 40’s. 



I’m done with this discussion so, have a nice day .

BL really wouldn't mind hearing about polo shirts again. Mike B where are you?

[quote=Ready2Jump]

Glad to be a youthful thinker in my 40's. 


[/quote]

Every woman's dream.  A guy in his forties who hopes to have an annual income in the 30s.

You've got those rules of thumb backwards.

Your waist size is suppose to be a smaller number than your age, but your income should be at least three times your age.

[quote=Ready2Jump] [quote=NASD Newbie]

A broker wearing a suit will never appear to be overdressed.

Period.

Next topic.

[/quote]

... are you listening?  I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH YOU!!!!  A broker in a suit will never appear overdressed!!!!!!  (well, except at my luau themed seminar that is)
[/quote]

We had a luau client appreciation event at a wacky hawaiian gilligan's island type place. Lord Abbett vendor showed in lovely tailored EXPENSIVE suit all the way from San Fran, even though we asked him for casual. He could not have looked more out of place AND uncomfortable in the 100+ heat with the flower lei we insisted he wear.

[quote=NASD Newbie]

If you devour the Wall Street Journal you will recall that a few months ago there was a feature regarding how employers are returning to suits everyday.

Mostly out of self defense.  When you tell the bozo sector of society that it's OK to come to work on Friday in "business casual" attire they, the bozo set, will eventually decide that means Twisted Sister World Tour T-shirt and cut offs.

One can never go broke underestimating the standards or intelligence of the average American.

[/quote]

So I guess this means the t-shirt I pick up from the Poison/Cinderella concert tomorrow night isn't acceptable to sport Friday morning? Even IF all our clients are hip, hip grannies?

I kinda sit on the fence on this issue.  I currently go with the country club look (after wearing a suit everyday for years) but if certain clients are coming in that day, I will wear a long sleeved dress shirt and suit pants that day and add a tie (and sometimes the suit jacket) if I feel it is necessary.  However, I have had literally have clients that were turned off that I used to always wear a suit.  Ready2Jump is not crazy in what he says.  NASD Newbie, there are people who think anyone in a suit is just trying to sell them something and they will never get past the fact that you are in a suit. 

For myself, I feel that my practice, my office and my work are more than professional and eliviate any concern that would arise from not having on a coat and tie.  If I was in a place that didn't have a good image, I might consider having my image more formal to let them know that everything is not half-class.  When they come in to my office and see everything perfectly neat (I am admittidley anal), organized and professional, they could not care less if I had a tie choking me.  They want someone who has the answer to their problems. 

Maybe this is a generalization, but if you work on a referral only business, you should be fairly safe in whatever your attire has been to be appropriate.  If you are in a heavy prospecting business, you probably should consider wearing a suit since all of your competition will be doing the same as they run around town chasing prospects. 

I had a few spelling typo's, so here is the post with them corrected so I don't have 5 posts pointing them out to me. 

I kinda sit on the fence on this issue.  I currently go with the country club look (after wearing a suit everyday for years) but if certain clients are coming in that day, I will wear a long sleeved dress shirt and suit pants that day and add a tie (and sometimes the suit jacket) if I feel it is necessary.  However, I have had literally have clients that were turned off that I used to always wear a suit.  Ready2Jump is not crazy in what he says.  NASD Newbie, there are people who think anyone in a suit is just trying to sell them something and they will never get past the fact that you are in a suit. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

For myself, I feel that my practice, my office and my work are more than professional and alleviate any concern that would arise from not having on a coat and tie.  If I was in a place that didn't have a good image, I might consider having my image more formal to let them know that everything is not half-class.  When they come in to my office and see everything perfectly neat (I am admittedly anal), organized and professional, they could not care less if I had a tie choking me.  They want someone who has the answer to their problems. 

Maybe this is a generalization, but if you work on a referral only business, you should be fairly safe in whatever your attire has been to be appropriate.  If you are in a heavy prospecting business, you probably should consider wearing a suit since all of your competition will be doing the same as they run around town chasing prospects.