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E&P Financial Group

  • 100 - 500 employees

Christian Beddoe

Building a perspective on a given sector or thematic, identifying the most effective way to gain exposure to that idea and being a part of successfully providing that strategy to clients is very rewarding and incredibly interesting.

What's your job about?

I work in the Wealth Management division of E&P Financial Group as an Associate.

My job is about managing the client’s investments to help them meet their goals and objectives which may include generating capital growth or income.

I work directly with an Investment Adviser and am responsible for managing all aspects of a client’s investment portfolios. A regular week involves five key activities which include meeting with clients, preparing investment advice, implementing investment advice both on and off-market, answering client queries and performing a series of administrative tasks.

On a typical day, I arrive in the office between 7:30 and 7:45 am. My first task is to check my inbox and calendar to prepare myself for the day. This includes planning my tasks around any meetings, calls or other commitments I have scheduled. I then catch up on research and global markets.

Most mornings we have a call with the Wealth Management team where research analysts update us on their market views and things to watch. After the call I prepare for client meetings by creating income projections, holding statements and asset allocation and collecting other useful information. During meetings, I record key points of conversation and participate where I can add value. After the meeting, my adviser and I work together to put together an advice document for the client which recommends investment strategies and securities to achieve their desired outcomes. It is my responsibility to answer client queries, implement investment advice on and off-market, as well as complete the necessary administrative tasks which all contribute towards helping clients manage their investments.

Learning is a key focus of each day.  

What's your background?

I was born in regional NSW. My parents are both chemical engineers who were working in the region at the time. We were a mobile family that travelled extensively. Work saw us relocate to Albury at the age of three. Before I turned ten we then moved to Europe where I spent my formative years in Hamburg, Germany. I attended the International School of Hamburg where students from all over the world mixed together. In 2014 I relocated again to Brussels, Belgium where I finished my International Baccalaureate in 2016. I then spent a year in London, England before relocating home to Australia to begin my university education. I spent the first year of my university career at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra before making the decision to transfer to the University of Sydney. I graduated from there in 2020 with a Bachelor of Economics majoring in Financial Economics and Banking. I worked in hospitality throughout my university studies as I not only enjoyed the social aspect but financial independence has always been important to me.  

I applied for an internship position with E&P Financial Group in 2019 and was fortunate enough to be accepted into the program commencing in December 2019. I was then offered a graduate position at the conclusion of my internship and have been working full-time as an Associate since then.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, someone with a different background than myself could do my job provided they were financially literate and have a genuine interest in the area. The most important characteristics of an Associate are being enthusiastic to learn, self-motivated, responsible, resilient and detail-focused.

 Strong interpersonal skills are integral to being successful in the role. The job requires you to continually engage with a wide range of people about intellectually and sometimes emotionally challenging subjects. A key skill of the role is being able to understand and synthesise complex information, particularly in the context of investments. We deal with clients who have varying levels of financial literacy, and it is our job to make sure we can relay information in a way that is clear, concise and easy to understand. Finally, to be successful in this role you must be good at shifting your focus between tasks on demand while continuing to maintain productivity.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about my job is reading, discussing and then implementing investment ideas.

Building a perspective on a given sector or thematic, identifying the most effective way to gain exposure to that idea and being a part of successfully providing that strategy to clients is very rewarding and incredibly interesting.

What are the limitations of your job?

I have a lot of responsibility as my adviser has a large client book. While responsibility motivates me to do my best work, the job can be both emotionally and physically demanding. The job can be very fast-paced, and tasks can pile up quickly.

Investments don’t always perform well, and this leads to challenging conversations with clients. The job has high consequences because if you make a mistake it could potentially result in a financial loss.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Effort and perseverance is always rewarded. Although it seems like a cliché, the ability to apply yourself and keep working hard when others give up will help you greatly.
  • Be open to critique and advice. Embrace feedback and use it to help you improve.
  • Choose to view challenges positively. Take them as an opportunity to learn.