What they do
Investors Group helps individual Canadians with their personal finances and their long-term financial and investment needs.
Where you can start
Pretty much everyone starts in the same position: as a financial advisor, working independently but within the company. On the one hand, you've got the flexibility of entrepreneurship, which is kind of cool and liberating. On the other, you've got one of the big dogs watching your back, supporting you, and ensuring you're doing the best job you can managing your business and clients.
Make sure to view all job postings from Investors Group.
Did anyone on the executive team start at the ground and work their way up?
There are tons of these stories at Investors Group: most of the senior executives, for example, started out in the company as financial advisors. Because you need to know the company intimately to move up the ranks, advancing into management and promoting from within is big.
Locations
110 Financial Planning Centres, 700 locations, all across Canada.
Workspace
Wherever you want to park your laptop and meet with clients. But, if office life is more your style, they've got that option too.
Culture
As a financial advisor, you'll be in what is essentially a sales role. This means you're a go-getter, and your co-workers will be too. Expect to dress to impress and face a lot of healthy competition. Then again, the culture is based on lots of teamwork, coaching, mentoring, and support too, because helping clients is the first priority. It's the best of two financial worlds.
Programs/co-ops/internships
To assist new consultants in establishing themselves, Investors Group offers a financing program that allows new consultants to draw against future earnings. Alternatively, new consultants can apply to self-finance their practice through Investors Group's Solutions Banking™ division, and be rewarded with a higher commission rate in their first year.
Diversity
More than 25 percent of Investors Group advisors are women, which is high considering the industry. And this tradition of glass-ceiling-free finance stretches back to the very beginning of Investors Group's history: one of their original advisors was a woman, way back in the 30s. But diversity goes beyond gender. For more on who fits in at the company—which is pretty much anyone who wants to work hard—check out their YouTube channel for profiles of real consultants.
Perks/money
Let's not mince words: as a financial advisor, your earning potential is officially unlimited. Check out this article for an example of exactly how, and how much, or watch the video below. As for other perks? You can earn dollars to spend on benefits, on your business, and on work-related education. Your hours and location are very flexible. There are also some truly great bonus structures, including huge rewards for top advisors. For example, heavy hitters in the President's Circle take trips en masse to hang out and share war stories in places like Tokyo, Barbados, Switzerland, Rome, and St. Petersburg, Russia. On the softer side, you get the flexibility of owning your own business, setting your own hours, and running things the way you want to, which is pretty nice.
Social/environmental responsibility
Giving back is a long-standing tradition at Investors Group, and volunteerism is considered a core company value at an institution full of "People Who Care". Some stand-out examples of this attitude are the Carnegie Award, their Matching Gift program, and the Imagine Canada Corporate Community Involvement Award.
Degrees they like
Specific credentials aren't that important at Investors Group. It's not what you're taking, it's who you are, and great advisors come from all kinds of backgrounds. Highly motivated, looking for a challenge, entrepreneurial in spirit? Go for it.
A little bit of history
Founded in 1926, their first office was located in Winnipeg, where the company is still officially based, however have over 100 offices across Canada. Fun fact: they created the very first Canadian mutual fund. Investors Group has been rated the #1 Full Service Dealer in the financial planning industry for five consecutive years1, and IGM Financial Inc., Investors Group's parent company, currently manages over $125 billion in assets and is the sixth largest global asset manager by market capitalization (Source: Bloomberg, Dec 31, 2012).
How to apply
First, check with your Campus Career Centre to see if Investors Group will be visiting your campus any time soon. If they're not, get the application process started online.
How long before you hear back, and what'll happen when you do
Expect a comprehensive, structured hiring process including quizzes and tests, two interviews, and a thorough orientation program. You'll be asked to present a business plan because this is, after all, going to be your own practice. Finally, you'll study up, write an exam, and get licensed. It's intense, but don't worry: Investors Group has the best training in the industry and they're with you every step of the way, and on throughout your career.
Best thing to do in an interview
They look favorably on people with experience in the business and financial worlds, so if you've got it flaunt it. If not, that's ok. You've got other applicable talents, right? Of course you do. Be your ambitious, confident self, and let them know you want it – and that you're willing to work really hard to get it.
Worst thing to do in an interview
A sense of entitlement is very off-putting to the managers at this company, because of the challenging nature of the role. This is not a get rich quick scheme.
Why you'll stay
The culture and the support. If you fit in here, you really fit in, for life.
Why you'll bail
It's a very challenging field. A lot of people don't understand what it takes to run your own business, which is: a lot of hard work.
Where can your career go with Investors Group?
There are two tracks you can take once you're in the door: build your own practice and become a senior advisor, or move into management and become a branch manager for the company. You can stay as an advisor your whole career or become a manager within the company (division director, regional director, vice-president, senior vice-president, etc.), or you can combine the two. Either way, Investors Group promotes almost entirely from within, so if you want a future in the company, it's yours to earn.
From here, you can...
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Banking products and services are distributed through Solutions BankingTM. Solutions Banking products and services are provided by National Bank of Canada.
TM Solutions Banking is a trademark of Power Financial Corporation. Investors Group and design are trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. National Bank of Canada is a licensed user of these trademarks.
1. Investment Executive, June 2008-2012.
Sponsored by Investors Group.