I know this has been over blown on this forum but for the most part is true. We are only allowed to see from our vendors what jones wants us to see. They offer other perfectly fine funds etc. that we never see and they are not supposed mention them to us. I assume it is because of our unsupervised rookie business model.The idea that C shares are bad is nonsense,they just don’t get there max commission upfront before you leave and tranfer them out. I like the other jones brokers and the company itself but i was not looking for another “Family” when i got in the business. It is like coaching a football team and only giving them 1/2 the playbook because you ran that one play 20 years ago and it did’nt work. just my opinion

Thanks Broker 24. I plan on putting together a postanthology…like a top ten posts from Bspears…or…a coffee table book with some of my quotes…

Thanks Broker 24. I plan on putting together a postanthology…like a top ten posts from Bspears…or…a coffee table book with some of my quotes…

Just as most great artists have to approve the location their work will be displayed…I too must approve the location you plan to place my book…Weddle called and wants the first edition…I knew he was a swell guy

entourage, how long were you with the firm before leaving?

i left 30 months after my csd.

Bottom line for the newbies…They come in to this profession with a skewed view of what the first 5-10 years really looks like.  They like to think they will automatically be thought of as a professional, equal to a lawyer, CPA etc…  When in reality they’re no more than a prospector making dk after dk after dk and call after call after call.  Everyday you come in, if you have an office, you have a call list with names you don’t remember or a street to dk.  The newbs daydream about new people walking through their door with 400k rollovers, every cold call will be pleasant with new accts everywhere.  THe first few months are scarry and exciting, opening new accts with 2k in them.  You have a small salary, just enough to keep you from totally drowning, but not enough to be comfortable.  And then the reality of what you’re doing sets in…You make a few calls, someone says…“would you take me off your damn list and quit calling me”…and you get pissed…you stop making calls that day.  The next day comes and you think,I will head out and dk…you knock on 20 doors and talk to 1 person, and ederly man who can’t hardly hear and thinks you’re selling vacuums.  You walk straight to your car and head back to the office.  Your assistant, if you have one, says…Ms soso called and got her statement, and is scared because the bond you sold her is down by 15% the first month and wanted to make sure she could get her principal back.   You call her back and try to calm her with …its A rated, very secure…and then to appease her you make that fatal statement…its guaranteed to pay principal back.  YOu are starting down the road of failure…You look at the market and its down 300 pts and the BAC stock you sold to a farmer at 50 is now 35…and the banking crisis is in full swing.  AND…he’s waiting to meet with you…meet with the farmer…he cashes out…says the bank is running  a great rate and will go there…and then…www.monster.com

Oh…I don’t know.  Jones was the only place I was at…but I assume it would be industry wide.  If you look at the percentage of newbies who make it…it is very low.  Now, alot of it is poor hiring, but alot of it is the industry as a whole and the tremendous amount of competition.  Lambda, have you seriously looked at the competition you have.  All the banks, brokers, insurance agents…DIYers, out of town brokers, the prospects ex husbands second cousin who works for Ed Jones in BFE.  The majority of the people you talk with either can’t or won’t do business with you.  I know, I know…you’re different.  Just like this downturn is different from the last.  Maybe you’ll make it and maybe you won’t…but go in knowing this IS NOT, I REPEAT, IS NOT a cakewalk.  It is only going to get worse…all firms are of the mindset…the big BOOMER rush is coming and we have to capture as much as we can…What use to be a great career will eventually become an okay job for a 2nd income in the household.

Is it just me, or is bspears decidedly more lucid today than usual?

And to think I've opened a trust acct, transferring 303k, change of broker on VUL 48k and did a lowly 50k muni today...also a 529 for 11k...things are flowing good today...