Financial Intern at Integritas Financial Planners by Pam Muyot
This year I have had the incredible opportunity to intern at Integritas Financial Planners, experiencing many areas of the business, from administration to attending initial client meetings and into paraplanning. I learned during these 15 weeks, how much work and detail goes into every stage and how much a high level of scrutiny is provided to ensure work is thoroughly checked before any conclusions can be made before it is finally presented to a client; which as a result provided a greater insight into the types of roles and responsibilities that I could perform as a Financial Advisor in the future.
Reflecting to my first day, it was one of the most unforgettable days of my time at work. Being introduced to the small team was both exciting and nerve-wracking. A valuable lesson I learnt from my first day, especially from an Advisor’s point of view- attending initial client meetings, is how things can change very quickly and drastically than anticipated. By observing, I learnt that no matter what situation you find yourself in, you should never doubt yourself.
The work I completed varied day-to-day depending on what tasks needed to be completed in terms of priority. As well as attending client meetings, I also sat in on seminar sessions with Investment Houses which further boosted my network capabilities as the means of extending professional contacts. I found that the workplace itself was very diverse from what I had observed working at Integritas. In addition, there was a relaxed nature to the work and office environment. I was able to use this to my advantage as I could communicate with colleagues effectively without having to worry about normal business jargon. I couldn’t be happier with the quality of knowledge I received from my boss- Mark Johnson- a great manager and a great mentor.
4 things I have learnt in my 4-month placement at Integritas Financial Planners:
Prioritise tasks to achieve your daily goals to remain in full control.
Ask plenty of questions to obtain new knowledge. Learning from the people around you is invaluable.
First impressions are important and therefore, let out your personality to establish rapport with colleagues, enabling a strong professional connection.