GERALD CHONG

I have been a financial consultant for almost 2 years now. Before joining the financial advisory industry, I wanted to be a lifeguard and was employed as one right after my national service. But Covid-19 hit, and my workplace was converted into a quarantine centre to support the pandemic. While preparing to enter university, someone introduced me to the financial advisory industry. As I became more exposed to the training sessions and team meetings, I realised that I could apply my learnings from my Economics course to value-add to my peers.

Developing a sense of responsibility.

Being a financial consultant has made me more aware of my own financial situation and the financial situation of my peers around me. It made me cherish those who put their trust in me and helped me develop a sense of responsibility to better service these people. I also became more efficient in managing my time to ensure that I will not neglect other areas of my life while working. Additionally, with increased interactions, while going through major milestones in my life, I also feel that I’ve matured and am more able to prioritise important events in life over simply having fun. Overall, this career has pushed me towards a more holistic lifestyle.

There is always the need for a human touch.

I believe that financial consulting will always be relevant because, in financial planning, there is always the need for a human touch. People will always seek someone who is able to empathise with their current financial situation and who is well-equipped to recommend solutions that adequately meet their needs and wants. I also believe that the industry is only ever-growing, and there will always be newer, better solutions
catered to changing circumstances in our society.

Have the discipline to keep going.

The most important trait every financial consultant should have is discipline. This is an industry that allows you to be self-employed, and this means no one else will be responsible for your success. No one will be able to fire you if you don’t get out of bed to work. And consequently, you have no one to blame if you do not push yourself. I believe that having the discipline to keep doing what is required and accomplish our jobs honestly, is what separates a top-tier consultant from others.

Accolades

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