Caproasia.com | The leading source of data, research, information & resource for financial professionals, investment managers, professional investors, family offices & advisors to institutions, billionaires, UHNWs & HNWs. Covering capital markets, investments and private wealth in Asia. How do you invest $3 million to $300 million? How do you manage $20 million to $3 billion of assets? Caproasia - Learn more



This site is for accredited investors, professional investors, investment managers and financial professionals only. You should have assets around $3 million to $300 million or managing $20 million to $3 billion.










12 Reasons Why Financial Sales is Tougher Than You Think

The financial industry is exciting and one of most sought-after sector for the brightest graduates to get into.  The instant impact to be in a global sector from day one is not a chance to be missed.

But one of the roles many stay away from, quit or leave the industry is financial sales.

Sales is one of the most demanding role in any industry, but for the financial industry, financial sales pressure has no limit.  Why is that so?  We look at 12 reasons why financial sales is tougher than you think.



- Article continues below -



Sign Up
Basic Member: $5 Monthly | $60 Yearly
Newsletter Daily 2 pm (Promo): $20 Monthly | $180 Yearly (FP: $680)


The 2024 Investment Day
6th March Hong Kong | 13th March Singapore

Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Boutique Funds, Private Markets & more. Taking place on 6th March 2024 in Hong Kong, 13th March 2024 in Singapore.
Visit | Register here


The 2024 Family Office Summit
10th April Hong Kong | 24th April Singapore

Join 100+ single family offices & family office professionals in Hong Kong & Singapore
Links: 2024 Family Office Summit | Register here






No. 1 Sales is Difficult

Banker Counselling

Who doesn’t know sales is difficult, unless you have never tried.

Most products (even at industry maturity stage), have a few dominant brands, and are highly competitive with little differences.  Sales people helps to bring the benefits & differences clearer.  They are also able to convince clients to take actions, today.

 

Sales Tips:

Would the result of you not making a decision today, give you a chance in making a better decision?  Or does it give you more stress?  Would you spend more time thinking or spend more time evaluating?  Would you forget to do it?

 

No. 2 Selling Financial Products is Even More Difficult

NAGOYA JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 26, 2014: Japanese Stock market board – Economy of Japan is the third largest in the world by nominal GDP.

Ever wonder why some of the best sales people comes from the financial industry such as insurance, banking and investment banking?

  • How do you sell products where the outcome is uncertain?
  • How do you sell products where the outcome is only known 3, 10 or 20 years later?
  • How do you sell products that most people cannot understand?

Selling financial products isn’t about getting clients to spend $1,000 or $5,000 today.  Other than Real Estate, it is perhaps the only product that gets a person to spend (entrust) most of their money (Eg. $10,000 to $10 Million) today.  For institutional sales, the amount can range as high as billions of dollars.

 

Are you able to sell the following the following deposits and loans:

Financial Institution Deposit Rate Loan Rate
Bank A 3.5% 4.15%
Bank B 3.7% 4.25%
Finance Co. A 4.1% 4.45%

 

No. 3 Financial Industry is not a Jungle. It is a Universe.

When someone tells you they know finance, they might have to rethink that.

The financial industry supports the global economy, in every industry and in every home. As the economy, industry and individuals evolve, the financial industry re-shapes itself to serve the financial needs in different ways.  Thus the financial industry is constantly changing, making it extremely tough to know what is going on.

How much do you have to know before you are able to do financial sales?

Think 1: Would the Federal Reserve allow the Central Bank of China, EU or India Central Bankers to have access to sensitive economic and financial data in their respective country or the world?  And vice-versa?

Think 2: Bloomberg is a popular financial software for financial institutions founded in 1981. In China, Wind Information is the dominant financial information service provider.  It was founded in 1994.  Do you know how to use them?

Think 3: How many countries are there in the world? How many financial system are there? How many currencies?  Not important? What if you are providing financial services to the emerging countries? Where do you get the information?  Do they have it?

 

The Financial Industry Universe:

Financial Industry Examples
By Financial Industry Stock Exchanges, Banks, Private Banks, Fund Management, Pension Funds, Private Equity, Brokerage, Insurance, Custodian
By Services Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking,
By Solutions Wealth Management, Capital Management, Risk Management
By Asset Classes Equities, Fixed Income, Money Market, Private Equity, Hedge Funds
By Products Structured Product, Unit Trust, Futures
By Client Segment Consumer, Corporate, Institutional, Mass Market, Affluent, HNW, UHNW
By Country Targeted Countries, Offshore Centers, Central Banks
By Region North America, MENA, North Asia, Oceania
By International Associations Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), G7, G20, United Nations, Bank for International Settlements (BIS), International Monetary Authorities (IMF), Domiciled Monetary Authorities

 

 

No. 4 Product Knowledge

Portfolio Allocation

Product knowledge is extremely hard to build up in the financial industry.  Such information are not readily available and most documents focused on regulations and disclosures.  And because financial products can originate from different jurisdiction, they can be structured or written differently.

Getting someone who (really) knows to teach you is nearly impossible.  The ones that are highly knowledgeable and successful are constantly working with their clients (largest businesses or influential people), raking in millions or hundreds of millions of fees for the financial institution.  Would they have 30 minutes for you?  Why should they?

Think 1:

How many years does it take for you to learn 3 financial subjects: equities, foreign exchange and private equity?  After learning, what can you do?  Can you generate $100 Million of trades or deals in 1 year?  How much fees can you rake in?  What is the outcome for your clients?  Can you control the outcome?

Think 2:

Why are financial products domiciled in Cayman Islands, Delaware, Luxembourg, British Virgin Islands, Guernsey or Jersey?

 

No.5 Financial Regulation & Framework Knowledge

Understanding the financial industry and having strong product knowledge is not enough.  In financial sales, you will need strong domestic and global regulatory knowledge.

This ensures throughout the sales process, you will not infringe any regulations that may result in dire consequences such as loss of financial advisory license, lawsuits, reputation damage to the financial institution you are representing, severe penalties or a revoke of license for the financial institution.

Example of Global or Domestic Financial Regulation or Framework:

  • Banking – Basel III
  • Investments – Securities Act of 1933, 1934 for Insider Trading  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • Tax – Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI)
  • Tax – Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

 

No. 6 Global Economic Impact

Financial Crisis

After building up a tremendous library of knowledge about financial products, industry and regulations, are you able to sell financial products? Perhaps yes, perhaps no.

Many financial products correlate highly with global economy.  Different financial products and its structure correlate differently with the global economy.  How do you know?  How can you explain these to your clients?

No. of Bank Failures (United States)

Year No. of Bank Failures (United States)
2016 5
2015 8
2014 17
2013 24
2012 51

Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

 

No. 7 Live Data, Live Numbers

Currencies

Perhaps the reason why many wants to get into the financial industry: Dealing with live numbers, globally and instantly.  And live data and numbers are probably the reason why many struggle and quit in financial sales.

The advantage of live data and numbers is that it gives you instant access to information and pricing, and also knowing it was going up or down.

If you are the client, wouldn’t you ask if you should wait for the price to drop?  How do you know?  How do you sell?

If there is no live data, the client will only have one price to get in – the price you quote.

Unfortunately, with the increasing instant access to live data for even the most ignorant client, how do you sell financial products where getting access to the price quotations is no longer a clear advantage.

 

  • When was the last time you gave the wrong pricing?
  • When was the last time you had a write-off?
  • Have you ever given the wrong ISIN number?
  • Have you ever select products with the wrong currency or domiciled?

 

 

No. 8 Returns and Risks

Whichever financial products or solutions, only 2 things matter: Returns and Risks.

Quantitative: Will there be more or less money?

Qualitative: Does it improve situations or prevent problems?

No matter how great you are at selling, financial products is like no others.  Your judgement and credibility are always constantly being challenged daily, with new information, new products and new prices.  Can you live up to what you have sold? Or is it beyond your control?

 

Unpredictable Product Outcome:

  • Lawyer – winning or losing a case
  • Surgeon – recovery rate, dead or alive after surgery
  • Trader – Profit & Loss over time
  • Fund Manager – Returns and Volatility over time
  • Advisor – Wealth gains or loss, benefits or complications over time
  • Investment Banker (M&A) – Deals over time

The Outcome: All have a clear, measurable but unpredictable outcome.

The Result: They lose their job / reputation.

 

 

No. 9 Fired by FI, by Clients, By Regulators, By Financial Market, By Black Swan

Head of Wealth Management

In the financial industry, sales people are under pressure every day, every week, every month and every quarter.

The propensity (tendency) to make mistakes is extremely high.  Signing on wrong documents could get you fired.  Mistake in pricing could get you fired.  Not submitting documents on time could get you fired.  Not delivering sales could get you fired.  Unlike other roles in the financial industry where a few people make decisions or sign off documents, financial sales representatives are often required to sign off documents single-handedly.

And if you are not in trouble with any, days like Great Depression, 2008 Global Financial Crisis or being an employee in Lehman Brothers on 12th September 2008 (Friday) will strike fear in any sales people.  Even if that happens, they still have to engage, manage and respond to their clients (individuals or institutions).

Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 (Bankruptcy Protection) on 15th September 2008 (Monday)

 

No. 10 High Pressure, Personal Meltdown

  • Should you have sold the financial product?
  • Could you have waited for a lower price?
  • Should you have been more aggressive by allocating a larger amount on hindsight?
  • Did you miss a huge opportunity?
  • What will happen tomorrow?
  • Will the financial institution increase the sales target next quarter or year?
  • Is this the end of the economic run?
  • Is the sector or company going to crash?
  • Should you call for an exit before everyone call for it?

While many procrastinate (delay) making decisions, doing sales in the financial industry means taking actions.  You can either do only one sale a year or do many sales a year.  Would you be right or would you be wrong?  Can you take the pressure?

 

No. 11 No Colleague Can (Really) Help You

Monitoring Investments

If you are a Trader, Investment Advisor, Fund Manager or Hedge Fund Manager, and there is an opportunity to make a great investment, would you share with everyone and get everyone to jump in together?

Or would you place in the maximum trade you could (from clients), and then spread the news that it is a great investment and you have placed in $10 Million to $100 Million of positions.

What if you are wrong?  Is this market manipulation or false rumours?

What if another bank had quoted an interest rate wrongly?  Will you tell them?  If you are the customer, would you demand the bank to commit to their (wrongly) advertised or communicated rates?

If the product is going to fail, would the management or product team inform you immediately?  If the bank is going to fail, would they inform you immediately and create a panic exit for employees and clients?

But do you have the duty to inform your clients?  How do you manage?

 

No. 12 Sales Target

Investment Advisory Team

Managing sales target is incredibly tough in the financial market.  The reason?

The time is spent on not only acquiring new clients and increasing sales but also on managing clients with under-performing products.

Managing clients with under-performing products is often the key reason why many struggle and thereafter quit doing financial sales.

If only financial products’ outcome will only be positive, then few will struggle with financial sales.

What do you think?

  • Do you think selling financial product is easy or difficult?
  • Is it safer to sell high grade bonds or insurance-linked products (capital guaranteed or endowments).
  • Is it safer to do institutional sales?
  • Is it easier to do financial deals that are backed by governments or strong institutions?

 




Managing $20 million to $3 billion. Investing $3 million to $300 million.
For Investment Managers, Hedge Funds, Boutique Funds, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Professional Investors, Family Offices, Private Bankers & Advisors, sign up today. Subscribe to Caproasia and receive the latest news, data, insights & reports, events & programs daily at 2 pm.

Join Events & Find Services
Join Investments, Private Wealth, Family Office events in Hong Kong, Singapore, Asia-wide. Find hard-to-find $3 million to $300 million financial & investment services at The Financial Centre | TFC. Find financial, investment, private wealth, family office, real estate, luxury investments, citizenship, law firms & more.  List hard-to-find financial & private wealth services.

Have a product launch? Promote a product or service? List your service at The Financial Centre | TFC. Join interviews & editorial and be featured on Caproasia.com or join Investments, Private Wealth, Family Office events. Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]

Caproasia.com | The leading source of data, research, information & resource for financial professionals, investment managers, professional investors, family offices & advisors to institutions, billionaires, UHNWs & HNWs. Covering capital markets, investments and private wealth in Asia. How do you invest $3 million to $300 million? How do you manage $20 million to $3 billion of assets?



Quick Links


2021 Data Release
2020 List of Private Banks in Hong Kong
2020 List of Private Banks in Singapore
2020 Top 10 Largest Family Office
2020 Top 10 Largest Multi-Family Offices
2020 Report: Hong Kong Private Banks & Asset Mgmt - $4.49 Trillion
2020 Report: Singapore Asset Mgmt - $3.48 Trillion AUM


For Investors | Professionals | Executives
Latest data, reports, insights, news, events & programs
Everyday at 2 pm
Direct to your inbox
Save 2 to 8 hours per week. Organised for success

Register Below

For CEOs, Heads, Senior Management, Market Heads, Desk Heads, Financial Professionals, Investment Managers, Asset Managers, Fund Managers, Hedge Funds, Boutique Funds, Analysts, Advisors, Wealth Managers, Private Bankers, Family Offices, Investment Bankers, Private Equity, Institutional Investors, Professional Investors

Get Ahead in 60 Seconds. Join 10,000 +
Save 2 to 8 hours weekly. Organised for Success.

Sign Up / Register


    InvestorProfessionalFamily OfficeExecutive


    SubscriptionMembershipEvents


    Professional InvestorPrivate WealthFamily OfficePrivate BankingWealth ManagementInvestmentsAlternativesPrivate MarketsCapital MarketsESG & SICEO & EntrepreneursTax, Legal & RisksHNW & UHNWs Insights










    Web links may be disabled on mobile for security.
    Please click on desktop.










    Caproasia Users

    • Manage $20 million to $3 billion of assets
    • Invest $3 million to $300 million
    • Advise institutions, billionaires, UHNWs & HNWs

    Caproasia Platforms | 11,000 Investors & Advisors

    Monthly Roundtable & Networking

    Family Office Programs

    The 2024 Investment Day

    • March 2024 - Hong Kong
    • March 2024 - Singapore
    • June 2024 - Hong Kong
    • June 2024 - Singapore
    • Sept 2024 - Hong Kong
    • Sept 2024 - Singapore
    • Visit: The Investment Day | Register: Click here

    Caproasia Summits

    Contact Us

    For Enquiries, Membership
    [email protected], [email protected]

    For Listing, Subscription
    [email protected], [email protected]

    For Press Release, send to:
    [email protected]

    For Events & Webinars
    [email protected]

    For Media Kit, Advertising, Sponsorships, Partnerships
    [email protected]

    For Research, Data, Surveys, Reports
    [email protected]

    For General Enquiries
    [email protected]





    Caproasia | Driving the future of Asia
    a financial information technology co.
    since 2014




    Previous articleUBS Wealth Management Sets up Special Desk
    Next articleTop 100 Richest People – Hurun Report
    Caproasia.com covering capital markets, investments and private wealth in Asia. Our users manage, advise & invest $25 trillion assets in Asia