RJ & Makay recruiting videos directed to Financial Advisors have exceeded 15,000 views.

The first video was released September 19th, 2008 and was directed to Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors in the wake of the Bank of America takeover. The second video was released November 4th, 2008. This video targets advisors at Merrill and Wachovia who are deciding between staying at their newly acquired firms or going elsewhere.

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During these unprecedented times in the financial services industry there are more Financial Advisors considering switching firms than in any period in recent memory. Although there are many seasoned and talented FAs looking, there aren’t many FAs with experience in switching firms.

As many of the brokerage firms had record recruiting years in 2008 (and expect similar results in 2009) there have been more critical and costly mistakes being made by FAs than ever before.

If you are in the process of switching firms, Darin Manis, CEO of financial recruiting firm RJ & Makay, shares 10 things NOT to do. Avoiding these pitfalls will help your transition to be as smooth and productive as possible.

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Goodbye 2008. You won’t be missed.

What a year. How do you summarize such a year?

• 2.4 million jobs lost in 2008.
• Crude oil prices peaked at $147 a barrel in July and ended at $44. Gas had a record high average price of $4.11 in July and ended the year at about $1.65.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average dived 34% which was its worse decline since 1931.
• The S&P dropped 38% representing more than $5 trillion in wealth disappearing.
• The Nasdaq plummeted 41%.
• The Dow had both the biggest stock point increase and decrease in a single day.
• Remember October 2007 when the Dow had its record close of 14,165? Well 2008 saw plenty of Dow point gain and point loss records. In fact, 2008 was a banner year for both.
• 2008 represented the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th and 20th biggest point loss days in the Dow’s history.  It also boasted the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th biggest point gain days in the Dow’s history.  Talk about a historic roller coaster ride.

Here’s a timeline of some of last year’s “highlights”...

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There are big interviewing mistakes and then there are smaller mistakes you can make as a candidate during the interview. Some are universal.  Some mistakes which would be a big deal at one firm might be considered a little mistake at another.  Nevertheless, be mindful of not making the most common biggie mistakes we see a lot of interviewees make. If you find yourself making one of these following mistakes, here is what I recommend for damage control.

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I have looked at more resumes than I can remember. To say I have looked at 10,000 resumes in my career would be a gross understatement. Here are a few hints and tidbits I hope you will find helpful, most of which you won’t find on the typical resume checklists out there.

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Searching for a job during a recession while unemployment is at recent highs is unquestionably a difficult and arduous process. Finding the right job in the hardest hit sector such as financial services during such times as these greatly compounds the frustration.

Here are 5 tips for job hunting in the financial sector during this current recession.

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It seems that there is a big misunderstanding in the media and in the public about the role Financial Advisors have played in getting us to this current financial quagmire Wall Street is in.

Financial Advisors somehow have become villains in the current Wall Street crisis and are perceived as a primary factor for the Wall Street bailout.

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