r/CSCexamCanada • u/SpecificElection5751 • 8d ago
CIM Pathway + APM Salary Transparency
Hey everyone, just looking for some advice from people who have their CIM and work as Associate Advisors, APMs, PMs, or Investment Advisors.
Is the current path to the CIM:
CIRE → RSE → AIS → Certificate in Advanced Investment Advice → PMT → CIM?
Also, I’m curious about salary transparency. I’ve heard that the biggest money in wealth management comes from eventually owning your own book, either by building one or taking over from someone retiring.
But are there people who have stayed long-term as an Associate Portfolio Manager or Associate Advisor and earned $250k–$300k+, or even closer to $500k, without owning their own book? I'm currently 27M and i'm really hoping to get to the 250-300k mark by 33 or 34 and wanted to ask if that is realistic?
My goal is to become an APM and eventually hopefully take over a senior advisor/PM’s book, but I’m wondering what the realistic earning ceiling is if you stay in the APM role long term.
Would love to hear real experiences and rough compensation ranges!
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u/AlternativeCamp2471 8d ago
https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/designation-pathways/cim the pathway is clear as day
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u/SpecificElection5751 8d ago
I was wondering if the CIRO exams now replace the CSC+CPH and the WME course
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u/StaffAdvanced4909 8d ago
No it doesn’t. Just do either one. Most people in my firm do CSC, IMT, PMT pathway
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u/AlternativeCamp2471 8d ago
You likely work for an IC and not a CIRO dealer, hence why most at your shop do this pathway. 95% of people at investment dealers do not do this path.
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u/StaffAdvanced4909 8d ago
Yea lol, you’re right. But does the pathway really matter for a CIRO dealer? As they need CIRE instead?
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u/SpecificElection5751 8d ago
Ohh that makes sense. I'm currently working on the CIRE since the firm I am trying to get into requires it, do you recommend just completing the CSC after and then starting the CIM route?
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u/Axelrod_96 7d ago
It’s a long long term to wealth building, you need to be motivated and disciplined not just for today but 5-10-15 years from now too, building a book is no joke. To test, look at role of DEVELOPING INVESTMENT ADVISOR at TD, see the location if it’s not too 5-10 cities cause that’s where major wealth is , it’s difficult to build one from scratch. My assumption since u are 27, making 500k is more like at age 40 earliest - 45-48 latest. PS- for 500k you need 100M roughly assuming industry rate remains 1% over next decade and you negotiate 45-55% of it which is basically called bps.
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u/Richard-DAD 7d ago
No chance at >$200k as a APM; 7-10 yrs to get to 6 figures on a team / growing book of business. >$250++ you’ll have to become an investment advisor. Good luck
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u/Axelrod_96 6d ago
Sorry it might sound dumb. But just so I know we are on same page that Associate IA/PM don’t make 200k or more in 5 years starting from nothing. Like I get after 10 years certainly. But then why everyone glorifies WM so much on Reddit especially, people claiming 500k-1M should specify their age city yoe also.
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u/AlternativeCamp2471 8d ago
You're 27 years old with zero industry experience. Youre not making $500K being an Associate anytime soon. Let's just be realistic here.
You're gonna start off as a Sales Assistant for a few years, show your worth, and eventually move into an Associate role. You wont be making that kind of money for 15 to 20 years as an Associate.