PRIVATE CLIENT ADVISOR Maria Iacob

PRIVATE CLIENT ADVISOR Maria Iacob

Q You came from an engineering background; how did you start in FX. That’s quite a difference?

The switch to fx was a happy coincidence. At the time, my specialty was indeed programming, but I studied accounting in high school and university as well. Having previously worked in customer support, I was invited for an interview with one of the top fx firms in Cyprus by a friend working in the industry.

At the end of the interview, I said ‘Look, I don’t know much about short term trading, but I’m willing to learn. All I need is a chance to prove myself.’ And so I worked very hard every single day of more than 6 years to reward the people who believed in me.

Q You now work in wealth management. Why did you make the transition into this part of the financial industry?

In fx I helped clients achieve their short-term goals. However, during our conversations I found that many of them saw intraday trading not only as a potential source of income, but also as a mean to achieve their long-term plans. Contracts For Difference (CFD) are complex products carrying a high degree of risk, however they attract a large number of inexperienced investors that end up losing their lifetime savings because there’s practically a total lack of specialist financial advice. It’s like trying to cross a busy street whilst being blindfolded – you know where you are, you know where you want to go, but you don’t know how to get there.

In my experience, people walk into the world of money blindfolded. And that’s something I’m looking to change.

Maria Iacob Private Client Advisor

Q Wealth management has always struck me as a male dominated industry. Is this the case? It appears to be a dry industry, is that the case?

Wealth management has always been a male dominated industry for the simple fact that we used to live in a patriarchy. The man was the one providing for the family, therefore the financial decisions rested with him. As the paradigm shifted towards women taking control over their future, building careers and becoming financially independent, there’s been an increase in the number of female executives, female financial advisers. For example, according to a study published by S&P Global Market Intelligence mid-October, female CFOs working in Russell 3000 companies brought in $1.8 trillion more than their male predecessors. One of the reasons is that they’re held to higher standards thus generating outstanding results.

If you’re passionate about working in an analytical, highly competitive and ever-changing environment, if you’re passionate about helping people build unique solutions to complex financial needs, then it’s the perfect industry to work in.

Q If I am looking for a wealth manager, what should be a checklist of what I need to see?

If you’re looking for a wealth manager it’s recommended you run your own due diligence on the adviser’s background – experience, authorizations and qualifications in the field, along with their work experience. If they’re representing a specific company, its well worth looking into the company’s regulation and reputation.

A good place to start is the company’s website. Continue with the financial regulators’ website to find the type of services the firm is authorized to provide, the jurisdictions they’re allowed to work in and check for complaints.

In my opinion, a professional wealth manager will always discuss the regulatory aspect with their clients as a means of enhanced investor protection, transparency and fairness.

Q Can you give us a breakdown on why you’re so different to others?

In the 90’s my family decided to invest in a very popular local scheme. A couple of months later the scheme went bankrupt, my family lost all of their savings and that was my first encounter with the lack of investment advice. Painful and bitter.

That’s what fuels my vision to protect people from such crippling experiences. I see my clients like family and I’m relentless in protecting their interests, doing right by them. Furthermore, I differentiate myself through technical knowledge and the ability to design a plan to its finest details. If I come across something I’m not aware of, I have the exceptional ability to learn and implement new knowledge immediately.

I’m a firm believer that if there’s a will to be outstanding, there’s definitely a way. It’s not my job, it’s just who I am.

Q Is there a specific client profile that will use your services?

The people that benefit the most from my help are international citizens, citizens of the world, if you like. Basically, people who pursued careers across the globe and, as a result, accumulated assets (cash, properties, investments, pensions) in multiple jurisdictions and are looking to optimize their structuring and returns.

Q How does your marketing message work? Is it based on safety & stability or another message?

My marketing message isn’t based on any of these two. My role is simply to give people the details they need to make an informed decision. I help people navigate the options available to them and based on their needs and priorities, identify the solutions which are right for them.

Best Regards,

Maria Iacob Mob: 9916 7964 Email:mmiacob@yahoo.com