FOR the last six years, Jean-Ann Panton has been serving Stocks and Securities Limited as a wealth advisor — a professional who, in addition to maximising returns on clients’ financial investments, has to constantly keep abreast of everything happening on the stock market.

This week, Panton, who spent nine years serving as a client service officer and two years as manager of client services at Stocks and Securities Limited, shares with Career & Education an insight into her career.

Who is a wealth advisor?

A wealth advisor is a professional who guides a client on how he or she can achieve his or her financial goals. Wealth advisors sit with their respective clients and discuss the many options available for investing. We discuss with clients the level of risk the clients are willing to take on the investments. Wealth advisor also monitor clients’ investments and give the best advice on whether to sell, hold, or increase their holdings.

What is the value of the work that you do?

The value of the work I do is priceless. I am able to liaise with my clients and liaise with my fellow staff members to ensure that my clients are satisfied. I also value my work in the sense that I get to see different personalities each day and am able to integrate my social skills.

What do you enjoy the most about your career?

I love chatting one-on-one with my clients, getting to know them personally, running a joke here and there. I enjoy making each client feel as if they are my only client.

What are your responsibilities?

My responsibilities are endless or limitless. At the end of the day I have to ensure that all Ts have been crossed and all Is have been dotted. I have a fiduciary duty to ensure that all my clients are fully accounted for and all transactions done in their best interest and according to their requests.

What qualifications are needed to become a wealth advisor?

It is preferred that you have a degree in banking and/or finance. These days education alone does not cut it, especially in this field. You will need experience. Experience will dictate how you deal with each client’s portfolio. This job is ever changing; as such, years of experience will dictate how you deal with each scenario and this requires that you constantly keep educating yourself to keep up with the pace of the financial sector. You also need to attend seminars which will make you more informed in your field.

What are some of the challenges you face on the job?

The main one would be related to time. We work on our own accord, so my job requires a lot of work and so there is less time to really have a personal life. I have to be constantly putting myself out there and getting training, and this affects my personal life. My other challenges occur in events where I may have a client that gave a request for a transaction and then change their mind once the transaction has already been processed. Then I have to address this issue without causing the client to lose. Timeliness is also essential. When we give recommendations or proposals to clients and they take a while to get back to us, trade prices may fluctuate and the gains anticipated for that client, based on that delay, would then be reduced or totally gone by the time the trade would be executed.

What advice do you have for others who want to enter the field?

Go for it and dream big. This job is awesome and amazing. If a door closes, which will be many, look for the glimmer of light and keep your focus on it — never give up! The stone that the builders reject will become the head cornerstone. With this job, the sky is the limit. You never stop working. Your potential in this job is endless and your experiences will be priceless. Just give it your all. It has to pay off and with patience and diligence, it will be worth it.