If the thought of joining our team here has ever crossed your mind, it’s only natural if you wonder how it’s like to work here with us. Is the work environment stressful and the workload heavy? Are teammates friendly and supportive or more likely to focus on themselves? Or even if we take a step back and start from the beginning, what the entire process is like from when you first join us, to your exams, and up until you get acclimated with the space and team here?
Of course, we could go on and on about everything that we practice and preach here, but that wouldn’t carry much or any weight if you don’t hear it from our team itself! So, here, we’ve got insider scoop as to how working life is like here at JLO, as shared by four of our financial consultants themselves, so that you can get a feel of how it’ll be like to join the industry and the team.
How is the culture at JLO?
Deloras: I love the culture that we’ve cultivated at JLO—we’re always ready to help each other out no matter what, be if it for case discussions or even forming groups to collectively work together towards goals so that we’re never fighting alone. Everyone here wants to see each other succeed, and I think that’s very important in a team. Everyone pushes one another to do better and be better. Plus, we’re not just friends at work, we’re all friends outside of work too and that’s always fun!
Clarence: JLO is diverse in so many ways, and even so, we all still gel and work well together. You’ll have people who are more of team players, while others are more self-sufficient and can run on their own. Yet, both are more than willing to help when you need it. Just ask, and you shall receive.
Zheng Han: Teammates are always more than willing to help. If I’m ever unsure of a certain matter, I can just pick up the phone and drop a text to one of my teammates and they’ll be back with an answer in a jiffy. It helps you work well, and it really plays a role in helping you succeed too! From time to time, our boss also creates focus groups for all of us to come together and bounce of each other’s ideas and energies so that we can work towards a common goal. It really creates a bond that you can’t find elsewhere, because everyone is always in sync and in synergy with one another that you’re always only pulling each other upwards, and never down.
What was it like to get accustomed to the work and team?
Deloras: It definitely wasn’t easy at the start because it was a steep learning curve and there was so much on my plate to manage. I had appointments to go to, most of which were outside the normal nine to five hours, I was meeting people constantly, and also had to allocate time beyond that to attend training too. Regardless, it was all still manageable although admittedly a little overwhelming at first, mostly because I had a very strong support system and my mentors that guided me all the way.
Clarence: At the beginning, it did start off a little awkward for me because there were so many new faces and names to learn, but everyone was so welcoming that it was so easy to get comfortable, fast. I wasn’t new to the industry though, so securing my first client wasn’t much of an issue. Over time, I’ve learnt to enjoy every part of the job, especially maintaining relationships with my clients!
Zheng Han: From the first day, you’ll have so much to learn. From how to do holistic planning, to handling objections from clients and getting referrals, you’ll always be picking up something new everyday. I wasn’t a big fan of the paperwork though, but over time, I got better at them and they’re fairly easy for me to complete now! I got my first client in slightly less than a month and it took me about six months before I was able to get out of the newbie training system and be independent.
Is time and income flexibility true?
Deloras: Yes, the career does boast flexibility and limitless income, but you have to put in the work to see the results. You have to be disciplined and make the days count! Set your time aside well so that you can focus on work on the weekdays, and your family on the weekends.
Wei Xin: Flexibility is really true, but of course, you’ll need to know how to manage it well too. Taking care of my children and being there to see them achieve their milestones was very important to me, and my career helped me with it. I could balance my time well with my work and family and didn’t have to sacrifice one for the other.
Zheng Han: You do get to control your own time, but be sure to hold yourself accountable for it. You need to put in the effort for appointment setting or even to manage administrative tasks so that you can be productive and not slack off. This career allows me to work extra hard on certain months to cover the other months that I did not work. It’s all really up to you and how much effort you choose to invest.
How was the certification and examination process?
Deloras: It was fast! I had already studied for the papers in advance so the process was rather smooth for me. Each time I passed a module, I’d move on to the next one.
Clarence: With the support of my team, my exams and licensing was a walk in the park for me. No hassle, nothing! While on its own it isn’t too difficult, but with the help of others, you’ll be certified and licensed fairly quickly.
Zheng Han: I’d originally moved over from Prudential and had already passed my papers then, but only had to take the M8 and M8A papers to expand my services and provide better recommendations for my clients. It was smooth, and there were no bumps in between.
That’s all of the Q&A’s so far, and we hope that we managed to answer the important questions that you have! If after reading all of this you either feel as though you’re keen on joining us or just want to find out more, we welcome you with open arms. Let us help you take the first step into a brand new and fulfilling career. Reach out to us and we’ll get back to you!
*This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon as legal or financial advice.