Ode to My Former Career

For the last two years, I've worked as a financial advisor selling mutual funds and insurance products. If you didn't know, that's because I haven't mentioned it on this blog, because NASD rules would then require me to disclose this blog to the government, and blah blah blah.

But those days are behind me. Right before my son was born, I accepted a position as a commercial banker for AMCORE Bank.

I've been trying to reflect on my time in that industry. Some thoughts, in no particular order:
1.) Financial advising is a TOUGH nut to crack. It ought to be required that you have prior sales experience, and yet, it is universally held that most firms will hire anyone with a pulse who can get licensed.
2.) Loaded funds are not always the way to go.
3.) The world is disgustingly underinsured on life and disability.
4.) They generally do not care.
4.) A sales position is a great way to go, and far more people should consider it.
5.) A sales position is worth considering fully - all else being equal - if there's either a base salary or some leads provided or some ridiculous natural interest among buyers. Taking a position without any of those, I now realize, was basically financial suicide.
6.) There is so much fun to be had between 8 and 5 each workday, and 90% of workers are missing out entirely.
7.) I will never be a straight employee again.
8.) Some people get it, some people don't.