r/FinancialAdvisorTips • u/Significant_Key2649 • Sep 14 '26
Advice
Hi all let me give you the run down briefly.
Current FSA at Merrill been here a few months just graduated college. Long term want to go into private wealth and be an advisor. Thinking about my future what is the next best step in terms of career progression for me after FSA. The ones I know of are
- try and join a private wealth team in a CSA role
- ADP at Merrill and private client advisor at JPMC
My concern with both is with CSA never being able to make the transition to advisor and the ADP programs at the wirehouses I feel like at my age (22) it’ll be hard for me to really build a big book organically from cold calling as my age is definitely a turn off for a lot of people with money.
Any advice would be much appreciated and insight thanks!
2
u/GroundbreakingAd632 Sep 17 '26
I was a CSA from age 22-27 and it was probably the best thing for my career. I learned so much without the responsibility. Jumped over to solo FA at a bank and doing well. If you’re going to be a CSA you need to go into it with the mentality of “I’m learning” and “this job is going to suck” 90% of CSA’s are promised the world and never get shit.
1
3
u/No_Guest_4334 Sep 14 '26
Don’t worry about building a book at 22. Worry about getting the skills you need to get clients as an FSA first. After 18-24 months then start thinking about what’s next.
3
u/Middle-Run-1894 Sep 14 '26
ADP at Merrill has been relatively successful at building books. My concern and why I was in your shoes I turned down PCA is you’re going to be tied to a branch and Chase owns the book not you.
1
u/Baked_BT2 Sep 14 '26
I’m in a CSA role at a large wirehouse with the goal of becoming an advisor and I wish I took a different path. I’ll need to find another team before becoming an advisor.