In August 2018, I made the move to Stifel, and my only regret is not doing it sooner! The first week I arrived, I knew I made the right decision. Coming from a large bank culture, the difference was dramatic. I was no longer just a number. Now, people knew my name and proactively reached out to not only welcome me, but to assist me in getting transferred over.
Within 90 days, we had successfully transferred over 95% of our clientele. What a relief this was, as my team is nearly 100% fee-based. Stifel’s on-boarding process for new advisors is second to none. It was simple, easy, and very clear for clients. I’m still in awe of the simplicity and ever-present support we received.
The Stifel culture is absolutely devoid of pressure. There is zero micro-management and complicated layers of bureaucracy. It is so refreshing to experience a firm that supports me in my decisions to do what I consider to be best for my clients. I have no pressure to sell loans, and I won’t have my deferred comp dinged because I did not meet my “quota.” The platform for managed money and PM advisory is robust and outstanding, and a significant step up from my previous firm. The internal and affiliated research measures up exceedingly well against ANY firm. Stifel allows advisors to use and foster best-in-class client presentations with MoneyGuidePro, not some compliance-riddled, internally created client presentation software that limits the output to simple cash flow projections. Simply put, MoneyGuidePro is the industry standard, and it’s available for Stifel advisors.
If you are looking to grow your business, Stifel is a breath of fresh air. The level of support for the advisor is, in my experience, unmatched in the industry. I feel like I’ve gone back in time 20 years to when I could literally call individuals in marketing, trading, or advisory operations and know the people by name. In fact, I’ve had more than a handful of unsolicited callbacks from home office staff, simply inquiring and following up on a previous call. “Is there anything else I can do to help you?”
Stifel treats my team and me like we treat our clients. I feel like a burden has been lifted and I am able to build and manage my business with complete freedom. The entrepreneurial atmosphere is unrivaled.
If my experience has even remotely piqued your interest, I invite you to call me to discuss what a future at Stifel might look like for you. I assure you that you won’t be pressured, and you will come away with real information that could impact your future in a way that you may never have expected.
