Financial advising is a profession and requires a professional level of commitment. This is a journey only for those who are truly committed, but for those few, the rewards are high. You will experience the three I’s of this role:

Impact: Financial Advising is not about selling. It’s about helping others – helping them prepare for the risks we all face – and being there when they need it most. In this career, you will literally change the course of people’s lives.

Independence: You will have control over your business. You will decide who your customers are and how you spend your time. Becoming an Acorn Life Financial Adviser is like going into business for yourself, but without the capital investment typically required in starting a business and with extensive support from Acorn Life.

Income: Financial Advisers invest a great deal of time and effort in the early years. But for those who stay the course, the rewards are high.

Now more than ever, people need help with their financial affairs. Business and economic trends are very promising for a career in financial services, where demand for professionals in the industry has never been greater. People are living longer, meaning they will have to plan to make their retirement funds last over a longer period of time. Increased life spans require that consumers plan for long-term needs. Finally, the variety and sophistication of financial products mean that consumers need more advice to gather and protect wealth.

This means that people entering the workforce, people leaving the workforce, people in the midst of their careers and all of the people who are, in turn, dependent on them require a knowledgeable, ethical and committed financial professional.

Those who enter the industry and grow their businesses over the next several years will be in an ideal position to make an incredible difference in society and build a very bright future for themselves.

This opportunity allows you to be in business for yourself but not by yourself. By helping to build financial freedom for others, you build an exciting and rewarding career for yourself. Whether you have had a successful career in sales or another field, you’ll be provided with the training and skills you need to understand the financial services industry and make the most of this opportunity. All you need is the attitude and drive to succeed and the motivation to work hard to get there

This is an exciting and demanding role where results will be achieved through good lead generation and referral skills, the development of long term business relationships with individual customers and the ability to deliver professional and trusted advice to them over the long term.

The success of Acorn Life depends on successful people - that is why we have created an environment which recognises and rewards both individual and team initiative, effort and success. Through this stable environment comes a career that also offers professional and personal satisfaction. You have the opportunity to be in business for yourself but not by yourself.

We are looking for people who want to be in business for themselves but not by themselves. Suppose you are a self-starter with the will to win and the determination to create your own success story. In that case, you will benefit from the guidance and opportunities offered by Acorn Life to achieve the training, skills, experience, expertise and independence of a true professional.

If you possess the following skills and characteristics, then we may have the perfect career for you:

• Ability to listen and to build strong personal relationships
• Self-confident and receptive to coaching with a high standard of personal integrity
• Hard-working, goal-oriented and the ability to persevere
• Possession of a suitable natural market and interested in meeting and working with people
• Successful track record in current/previous field of employment

To perform in this key role, you will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a full clean driving licence.

Here at Acorn Life, we understand the importance of continuous professional development. We have developed a support structure with the Sales Management Team that supports you in every career phase.

The Acorn Life Mentoring Programme

When you become an Acorn Life Tied Agent, you will be assigned a mentor/trainer to help you achieve your business plan. This person will guide you through the 1st year of your career, assisting and supporting you when required.

The mentoring programme will not only give you access to a wealth of knowledge through a recognised professional in your branch but also provides a vital support when you require direction and guidance. Mentoring is an industry-recognised system which has been proven to be  that has been hugely beneficial to all participants.

Training School

Once part of the team, you will attend a comprehensive training programme. This programme has been designed to support candidates who may have little or no experience in the financial industry. You will learn about:

• Our company
• Products and services
• Business development skills

The initial intensive training course is split between in-house instruction and on-the-job preparation.

Ongoing Training

Throughout your career, your success will depend upon the sales process you use and the product solutions you develop for your customers. Acorn Life is committed to providing you with the essential skills and competencies to get you started and help you grow into a top sales producer.

Professional Development

Acorn Life is committed to helping new candidates towards qualification as a Qualified Financial Adviser. The QFA designation is established and recognised inside and outside the financial services industry. QFA has become a registered trademark, and, much more importantly, consumers are becoming more and more aware of the designation thanks to the national print and radio campaign run by the QFA Board. In-house training and QFA subscriptions are provided free of charge by Acorn Life.

Business Development

Acorn Life also supports your business development through our Business Development funding specific to each new adviser. This funding is available to each manager to use in promoting and marketing a new adviser after they have completed their first six months with Acorn Life. Again, your manager will go through this in more detail with you as required.

As a financial adviser, your potential is as unlimited as your energy, commitment, and drive. Your hard work determines your rewards. You develop your skills in fact-finding and referral prospecting by establishing enduring relationships with customers. These skills are at the forefront of helping your customers achieve their goals and your mission.

We help our financial advisers with a weekly Start-Up Allowance, plus the opportunity also to earn commissions as you build your business in your initial few months. Your local branch manager will discuss how our remuneration model works, and help you protect your financial needs and your potential income as a start-up and over the longer term. Together, you will set strategic business goals. 

There is much about Acorn Life that is unique - its genesis; its Galway based Head Office; the efficiency of its administration, and the performance of its unit-linked managed funds. In a very real sense everybody is a team player and an environment is created where the customer benefits most of all.

Acorn Life offers an excellent benefits package for our team of financial advisers, which is linked to performance,  including:

• Professional Training
• Comprehensive Education
• Ongoing mentoring and support
• Working from home
• Career development prospects

Fundamental Questions

By now you should have a good idea of the challenges and the rewards of building your business with Acorn Life. You may be excited about moving forward or apprehensive about the sacrifices required. Both feelings are good. They help you move toward making the decision that is right for you. As you refl ect on all that you have learned about this profession, consider your answer to these four important questions:

Why do you want to become a financial adviser? This position requires sacrifice. Keeping your focus on which of the three I’s drive you – Impact, Independence or Income – will help you through the early years. With clear goals and strong purpose, you can succeed.

Are you ready to be a business owner? While you will have help from Acorn Life, the success of your business will ultimately depend on you. Are you ready to make the commitment required to build a successful business?

How will you build a customer bank? And the answer to this question is critical to your initial business plan. To build up a customer bank of 100 customers usually means meeting with at least 300 people. Meeting with 300 people can require talking with 1,000 or more prospective customers. Are you willing to network and ask for referrals?

Do you believe in what financial advisers do? As a financial adviser, you are assisting your customers in reaching their life’s goals. You are the protector of their hopes and dreams for the future. As you proceed in each step in the selection process, ask yourself, “Is this something I am passionate about and truly believe in?” Knowing the answer to that question will make your decision clear.

Currently have openings in branches nationwide. If you are interested in applying for a position, please email your CV to recruit@acornlife.ie

Or you may post your CV to us at the following address, stating the position you are interested in:

Recruitment,
Acorn Life,
St Augustine Street,
Galway.

Please note that all positions are located in the Republic of Ireland and that all applicants must have the necessary permits to work in the Republic of Ireland with immediate effect.

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