Distinguished training

Financial professionals come from all backgrounds, from recent college grads to professionals seeking more rewarding work. While no financial or accounting degree is required, providing effective financial guidance requires analytical skills and tools, and we’re renowned in the industry for the quality of its professional training. In fact, we've been recognized as one of Training magazine’s Training Top 125 for multiple consecutive years1.

“Training, tools and support from Guardian are equal to or better than anything I’ve seen in the marketplace,” says Jeff Howard, a financial professional with Consolidated Planning Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina.2 “They have made a tremendous difference in my practice, enabling me to deliver the best possible solution to my clients.”

Carloyn Sheffey of Rethink Wealth in Fort Worth, Texas agrees.3 “There are programs for all stages in a financial professional career. Everyone at Guardian wants you to reach your full potential as a producer and as a person.”

Building your own business

Financial professionals balance their time between serving existing clients and gaining new ones. Ms. Sheffey focuses her practice on working with physicians and dentists. She immerses herself in the needs of that community and hosts three to four educational sessions each month specifically geared to providing value for medical professionals.

“The entrepreneurial nature of our business requires a lot of hard work, especially in the beginning,” says Ms. Sheffey. “But if you take the time to build your client base early, it will pay off in the years that follow.”

Mr. Howard takes a similar approach, developing community “centers of influence” — such as property and casualty insurers, attorneys, bankers, and CPAs — and creating comprehensive services for those niche markets. 

A day in the life of a financial professional

“Every day is different and never boring,” says Ms. Sheffey. “I structure my own schedule, so I can go on vacations when I want, work from anywhere, service my clients on a time that works well for them and be more efficient with my own time.”

Client meetings occur throughout the day, but many financial professionals reserve mornings for working on their clients’ long-term plans using Guardian’s proprietary tool, The Living Balance Sheet®.

It’s a powerful online platform that helps financial professionals show clients their complete financial picture and the value of establishing lifetime goals.

“What differentiates us from other firms is the depth of the analysis we do for a client and our protection-first philosophy. Tools like The Living Balance Sheet® help us to deliver the best outcomes for our clients,” says Mr. Howard.

From financial stress to financial confidence

If you consider that more than 1 in 5 working Americans are stressed out, with financial worries near the top of the list 4, a financial professional serves a real need for clients. They may have financial goals — such as buying a home, funding college, starting a business and even attempt to do all of these things at the same time — but not know how to achieve them. Consequently, being a financial professional is challenging, but rewarding work. The job is about helping clients cross the bridge from a state of financial stress to a state of financial confidence, and many professionals consider it more of a calling than a career.

“Helping clients absolutely motivates me. It’s very rewarding to see how your work is able to improve a client’s financial well-being,” Mr. Howard explains.

So what about you? If you’re motivated by challenging work and a desire to help others, a career as a financial professional could be a great fit. To find out more, contact a local Guardian firm near you.

Disclaimer

Consolidated Planning Inc. and White Rhino Financial are Guardian-affiliated agencies.

The Living Balance Sheet® and The Living Balance Sheet® Logo are service marks of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. © Copyright 2005-2022 Guardian.

1

Guardian has been recognized as one of Training magazine's Top 100 Organizations for five consecutive years, from 2016-2021.

2

Consolidated Planning is an Agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. Securities products and services and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities, LLC (PAS), member FINRA, SIPC. OSJ: 4201 Congress Street, Ste. 295, Charlotte, NC 28209 704.552.8507. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Consolidated Planning is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.

3

Rethink Wealth is an Agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY.  Securities products and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), member FINRA, SIPC. OSJ: 3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1150 Houston, TX  77056, phone # 281-220-2700. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Rethink Wealth is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.

Securities products and investment advisory services are offered and sold only by appropriately licensed entities and advisors.

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