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Irene So, Vice President and Investment Advisor

Why did you choose to become an Investment Advisor?
I was managing pension funds and although the job gave me access to a lot of research and to CEOs of the companies I was covering, I missed working with people. I wanted to have more contact with people and feel that my contribution was making a difference. That's why I chose to be an Investment Advisor. Now, I get to help people every day and that gives me great satisfaction.

Why RBC?
Once I decided I wanted to move to the retail side of the business, I first went to a competitor but two years later moved to RBC Dominion Securities. I chose RBC because it was the firm with the best research and strongest brand name recognition. Given that everyone knows the lion that represents RBC, they trust you more because you have a solid company behind you.

How does RBC support you in your success?
RBC has a network of experts in place to help us better support our clients. For example, RBC provides access to experts for tax or investment strategy purposes. They provide tools for seminars and presentations, marketing support, market commentary reports. Basically, there's a whole group of people working behind the scenes backing you up to help you do your job.

What is your greatest challenge as an Investment Advisor?
The greatest challenge right now is to stay on top of what's going on in the markets and to continuously provide first-class service to clients. You need a strong team in place and you need to work smarter in today's environment.

What would you say to a person starting out in the industry today?
I would say just go for it. An advisory role is challenging. You have to be very committed to your clients and your job. Investors today are far more knowledgeable so you have to be able to add value by acquiring a broader knowledge of investment management including tax, estate and insurance. You are the relationship manager, you are the quarterback of the relationship and you need to be able to steer the ship, not just be a money manager.

There is a huge opportunity over the next decade as many baby boomers inherit wealth and will need assistance in managing their financial future.

What is the most important attribute someone should have to be a successful Investment Advisor?
You must be disciplined in both the way you use your time and how you choose to focus on your area of expertise. You have to be persistent and ride out the bad times by relying on your strong beliefs. And you have to surround yourself with experts and a strong team that will help you address your clients' needs.

With the right amount of discipline, professionalism and commitment to helping your clients, anyone can learn the business and be successful.

What makes an Investment Advisor successful?
First, I would say being part of a strong organization like RBC is a key element of my success. The brand gives Investment Advisors immediate prestige and credibility. Second, the first-class training offered by RBC ensures that our Investment Advisors are the best in the industry. And third, commitment is key. That means when you are starting out, you will have to invest a lot of your time in building a strong base for your business.

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