Read the dialogue to learn aboun Lauren’s career history. Act out the dialogue. Prepare 1-minute presentation about the job of CFP. Use Language bank

Lauren G. Lindsay, CFP

Interviewer: What were you doing before you became a personal financial advisor?

Lauren: I taught inner city kids in London for five years. Then I came back to the United States and taught for a year in my home state of Massachusetts.

Interviewer: Why did you decide to become a personal financial advisor?

Lauren: I loved teaching, loved the kids, but I hated the politics. When I came back to the United States the state of Massachusetts would not recognize my master’s degree from the University of London. They wanted me to shell out $30,000 and go back for another graduate degree. I started to look for another job (in Boston) and no one would hire me. They all said, “You have teaching experience but nothing else.” The only job I got offered was to answer telephones for 401K participants at Putnam in Boston. It was a huge pay cut from teaching, so you can imagine how bad it was. But Putnam offered opportunities to get promoted quickly if you took classes. When I was there six months I started working toward my CFP, and Putnam paid for my classes. While I was at Putnam I also won a sales pitch contest. I beat out people who did sales for a living. To me a sales pitch was like doing a lesson plan, but to a much more willing audience. They actually sit in their seats and do not throw things at you. When the sales pitch was so successful I realized those skills could be transferred to business. That is when it all started.

Interviewer: What was involved in terms of education/training and getting your first job?

Lauren: Putnam provided a lot of in-house education, and they paid for me to take evening classes at Merrimack College in Andover, Massachusetts, to prepare for the CFP exam. When I left Putnam I began doing corporate education seminars on 401K plans. People waited in line their entire lunch hour to ask me questions. I started doing financial planning for some of the people I met through these seminars. I would meet people at my house, at Starbucks, at the library. Eventually I rented a small office. My practice grew for five years. When I decided to move to Louisiana with my husband, I sold my firm for a good amount of money. In Louisiana, I joined a one-person firm that had been in existence for 30 years.

Interviewer: What are the keys to success as a personal financial advisor?

Lauren: Listening skills are most important. Post-Katrina, people who had lost everything were coming to me. I booked a session with a therapist to ask him what to tell these people, how to help them. He said, “You know how to listen, right?” Listening helps me understand what my client needs and wants. Education is of paramount importance too. I like to make sure my clients understand the context of my advice and recommendations. My own education is vital as well. I do at least one Web seminar a week to keep up with changes that can impact my clients.

Words you may need:

certified financial planner (CFP) - дипломований фахівець з фінансового планування

shell out – розщедрюватися

beat out - перемогти, обійти, вибити (з гри)

willing audience (тут) – старанні слухачі

of paramount importance – особливо важливий

keep up with changes – іти в ногу зі змінами

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