How I Became - a financial advisor w/ Ilma Mani

Welcome to the ‘How I Became’ series where Billie talks to girls across New Zealand who are killing it in their chosen career and see how they got there!

Trying to decide what you ‘want to be when you grow up’ is hard enough as it is and your careers counsellor probably won’t have all the answers you need.

HIB aims to give you a bit of insight into different career paths and what it takes to get there.

Name: Ilma Mani

Age: 32

Job title: Financial Advisor

Current job: Financial Advisor with National Capital

Firstly, what drew you to finance?

It was actually my brother who suggested that I look into it. When I first started university I knew I wanted to do something in business so I started with management as my major at first. Then talking with my family, I was worried about who would hire a management graduate and put them into a management position straight out of uni? It was and still is a leap of faith. I went into finance because I wanted to choose a profession that allowed me to learn first hand and ins and outs of early retirement strategies. And I am doing just that. What I didn’t expect to find along the way was the wonderful lecturers, friends, colleagues, employers, mentors that have supported and continue to support me, inspire me, push me, clash with me but always help me grow into a better person. I discovered that I love working through a client’s financial situation and coming up with a solution that leaves them happy and confident that they have done the right thing for themselves.

What subjects did you take in high school that you think helped?

I would say taking sciences such as trigonometry and geometry really did make it easier than people who had come from a history background, for example. In saying that, uni has so many resources available that everyone who has the willingness to learn, will be fine.

What did your pathway towards starting your career look like?

I must say, I did get a bit lucky as well. I am a big believer in visualising what you want your future to look like and writing at least the major goals down. I keep a journal for expression but also to write things I want to accomplish and places I want to be in time to come. So when I was in my last semester at uni I spent some time applying for the internships I wanted but also instead of letting the stress of “the importance of choosing a good internship” get to me, I constantly reminded myself that I had put in the hard yards and now I would see the results of that. Stress is good in moderation because it keeps you motivated but in excess it keeps you from enjoying the opportunity for what it is. This was an opportunity for me to choose a place I wanted to become a part of, gain experience and also share the knowledge I had spent the last 3 years accumulating. So I thought long and hard about what my values are and looked for a company with similar values. That’s when I came across National Capital. 

Fast forward 3 months of internship, I went back to uni, got ready for graduation and started applying for jobs. Same deal here, reminding myself this is an opportunity, no need to stress. 

I was a month into looking for work, still a couple of weeks away from graduating and still working my student job at the gym when National Capital called and told me they were looking at expanding. Would I be interested in becoming an advisor? I had considered it before and was applying for a certificate anyway. I loved talking with people and I also loved working at National Capital. So things once again aligned and I accepted the job.

What did you study/where/how long did it take?

I studied a Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance and minors in management and design thinking at AUT. It’s a 3 year degree but I did it in 2.5 years because I did summer school both years.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Teaching people the potential that KiwiSaver has to really ramp up their retirement or first home buying experience and helping them follow through.

What’s the hardest part?

Seeing people walk away from a great KiwiSaver Scheme investment strategy. I take comfort in knowing that I did everything I could and if they need me in the future, they know they can come back.

What surprised you most about your job once you started working?

The amount of independence I enjoy at my job. It is a wonderful thing and it forces me to be even more conscientious because I value that independence and wish to continue to enjoy it.

What does an average day look like for you?

Replying to emails in the morning, or maybe just scanning to see if there’s anything urgent. If not, move onto my task list which usually consists of getting in touch with clients for one reason or another. The rest of the time I will be on calls with prospective clients going over the recommendations sent to them. I make sure to leave some time in my weekdays empty in case I need to move things around or for things that tend to ‘pop up’

What advice would you give to those looking to follow a similar career path?

Never stop believing in yourself and trust the process. And do the work. You don’t stop believing in yourself because you’ve put in the work and it will pay off.

What are the biggest challenges in your opinion to getting into finance?

It’s not so much the challenges of getting into finance, as it’s the dent in the reputation the Global Financial Crisis has given the finance industry and that can sometimes create another barrier between you and the client that needs to be brought down. 

What kind of skills does your job require?

Listening skills, organisational skills, communication skills, technical skills and a keen eye for detail, to mention a few.

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

When I know the client trusts me and we have built that rapport. There was one instance where a lady made an appointment with me so I could teach her how to use the Milford Assets App to access her KiwiSaver Scheme. It was something anyone in our team could do but because we’ve built that rapport, she trusted me to talk her through it. It’s the little things, you know. 

What has been an absolute highlight of your career?

It’s only been 6 months but being brought on board and having Clive as a mentor, teaching me everything he knows about the business has been an absolute highlight. He has put a lot of thought and work into this and to witness and learn first hand from him is a very big opportunity. He has accomplished a lot and he’s only 42 so it’s very inspiring. 

What’s an unexpected element to your job that people don’t realise you have to do?

Odd jobs behind the scenes like organising with developers bugs that need fixing or QAing things pending approval.

Describe your job in three words

Listen, advise, discuss.