[quote=joedabrkr]

Sir Newbie-how do YOU know about running your own business?  From first hand experience?  Please, do tell!

[/quote]

I will not compromise my identity by playing games with you--however, I am the majority owner in a business that has had its doors open for more than 25 years.

I do not man the business, but I know all about what has to happen, dealing with the "monthly nut" and so forth.

It's not rocket science--as demonstrated by the fact that you're trying your hand at it.

What do you think you're dealing with that a Merrill broker doesn't have to deal with?

[quote=anonymous]Sorry, NASD, but a farmer or rancher won't be impressed by someone standing in their mud wearing a new suit.   Wear a suit in your office and look professional.  Wear a suit in the mud and look like a fool.[/quote]

Well said anonymous, reminds me of a story my rep tells at seminars to clients.

A guy drives up to a field in a nice car and steps out in an expensive suit, and says to a sheepherder, "If I can tell you how many sheep you have out in that field, will you let me have one?"

The shepherd says, "sure, why not?"

So the guy gets out his palm pilot and does a few calculations, and tells the astonished sheperd exactly how many sheep are in the field. Reluctantly, the shepherd allows the man to select his animal.

As the man is struggling to get the animal into the back of his Jaguar, the shepherd calls out to him -"Hey want to go double or nothing? I bet I can tell you, what YOU do for a living, if I can you have to give it back."

So the man says all right.

The shepherd says, "You are a financial advisor."

The shocked man says, "how did you know?"

"Well, you showed up without an appt, you took up my time, you came overdressed, and you know nothing about my business, now give me back my dog!"

It's all about building rapport with your clients. 

It's hard to build rapport if the farmer, blue-collar worker, etc. is uncomfortable (read - not able to concentrate) with the FA sitting in his $1500 suit & Gucci shoes.  Even if business etiquette dictates our dress standards, we still have to use common sense.

[quote=NASD Newbie]

[quote=joedabrkr]

Sir Newbie-how do YOU know about running your own business?  From first hand experience?  Please, do tell!

[/quote]

I will not compromise my identity by playing games with you--however, I am the majority owner in a business that has had its doors open for more than 25 years.

I do not man the business, but I know all about what has to happen, dealing with the "monthly nut" and so forth.

It's not rocket science--as demonstrated by the fact that you're trying your hand at it.

What do you think you're dealing with that a Merrill broker doesn't have to deal with?

Arguing over dress code is silly.  No one dress code is better than the other, it’s just different.  The clientel that you work with and culture of the company should dictate dress code.  If you’re working with farmers, don’t wear Gucci shoes & Armani suits.  If you’re working downtown with business execs, don’t wear bib overalls.

[quote=exEJIR]

It's all about building rapport with your clients. 

It's hard to build rapport if the farmer, blue-collar worker, etc. is uncomfortable (read - not able to concentrate) with the FA sitting in his $1500 suit & Gucci shoes.  Even if business etiquette dictates our dress standards, we still have to use common sense.

[/quote]

Do they sell business suits that don't cost $1,500?  How about shoes, do they have anything except Gucci?

You will never find a successful broker, or banker, who agrees that it is ever inappropriate to be appropriately dressed.

Lots of failures will say that dressing like a golfer is their "style."  But why would you want to model yourself after a failure?

I happen to agree regarding the wearing of suits, or at least a jacket and tie.  That being said, why do you equate a golf shirt with failure? 

It's simply not so.

[quote=Starka]

I happen to agree regarding the wearing of suits, or at least a jacket and tie.  That being said, why do you equate a golf shirt with failure? 

It's simply not so.

[/quote]

Some guy who does not grasp the importance of dressing the part is a failure in that he not reaching his full potential.

If you do not reach your full potential you have failed to a degree.

Almost all of us are failures when held to that standard, including me--but a financial type is not giving themself a fair chance if they don't dress like a mortician.

[quote=Starka]

I happen to agree regarding the wearing of suits, or at least a jacket and tie.  That being said, why do you equate a golf shirt with failure? 

It's simply not so.

[quote=NASD Newbie][quote=anonymous]

"If you lose a single prospect because the client is not impressed with your choice of attire you have lost one too many."

Sorry, NASD, but a farmer or rancher won't be impressed by someone standing in their mud wearing a new suit.   Wear a suit in your office and look professional.  Wear a suit in the mud and look like a fool.

[/quote]

As I've said I have experience with farmers and ranchers and I have never met with them in their fields or elsewhere where there would be muddy conditions.

It was normally in their home, but a lot of them had very nice offices somewhere on the property.

If they happen to put you in a situation where you get your business shoes muddy they will apologize rather than think you a fool.

They are not as stupid as you seem to think they are.

[/quote]

I do deal with farmers and ranchers on a daily basis in my practice and did so also when I was a lender.  We have all had this conversation before.   There ARE occasions where you will be meeting your rancher clients in less than pristine conditions.   Unless you are at EDJ, you are not meeting your client for the first time at the ranch doorstep, therefore they have had plenty of opportunties to see you in the more formal office attire.  They know how you dress when in the office and if you aren't smart enough to be flexible when visiting in an outdoor location they will certainly be thinking "stupid city slicker"  and secretly laughing at your stuffed shirt attitude.

Below is a post I did on this in the past.

As to the clothing. I dress up when I'm at work. That means in my office, visiting clients at their businesses or homes or giving a presentation at a seminar.  However, I have learned that you need to be flexible when off premises.  At a luau or theme event, then you should of course dress according to the theme. 

Also when visiting a client's business establishment you need to use some common sense. Here is an example.  I had to inspect a large cattle operation to whom we were making a loan. Checking for brands and earmarks, that the breed was the one we were lending on, count the legs and divide by four to make sure the herd was as represented (that's an inside joke), check the barns, equipment etc.  After all this was the collateral.  The only way to do this barring getting on a horse and riding the range (and I've done that too, a great way to get out of the office!) was to go to the stock yard when the cattle were gathered before moving them to other pasture/ranges.  They were testing the cows for pregnancy (Don't ask how. You don't want to know.) 

So my attire that day wasn't my usual heels and dress suits. Instead I had on rubber boots, jeans and a long sleeve shirt and leather gloves.  If I had showed up "all gussied up" I would have been a laughing stock, not to mention having ruined permanently my shoes. 

It is ok to get out of uniform occasionally.

I also have had to go to get papers signed at logging operations.  Ever try mincing around a log deck in high heels?  Wrong.  Wear a nice pair of slacks and decent walking shoes for that occasion, shoes that you can hose off later.

I would not get out of my car on a farm or ranch and reach for my coat, but I damn sure would have on a tie.

Then, in the presence of the client I'd say something like, "I'm dressed too formal for being here," and I'd pull the tie off and put it in my briefcase.

I suppose carrying a briefcase is wrong--that when you're dealing with farmers and ranchers you should carry a pillowcase over your shoulder?

Do any of you think you're actually going to survive in this business?

[quote=NASD Newbie]

I would not get out of my car on a farm or ranch and reach for my coat, but I damn sure would have on a tie.

Then, in the presence of the client I'd say something like, "I'm dressed too formal for being here," and I'd pull the tie off and put it in my briefcase.

I suppose carrying a briefcase is wrong--that when you're dealing with farmers and ranchers you should carry a pillowcase over your shoulder?

Do any of you think you're actually going to survive in this business?

[quote=joedabrkr]
And exactly how long did YOU "survive" as a registered rep"?  What are you doing now?  Oh yeah, that's right, "retired".  That's what they call it these days?
[/quote]

don't forget- he's executive vice president of a popcicle stand in mid-town NY- tho he's not actually running it day to day, he does know where the nuts are.