CIMB Thai Bank has launched the Wealth STAR program to develop top-notch professional financial advisors  by selecting 25 young individuals to enter a fast-track course with financial experts and professional financial planners, aiming to become a new breed of financial advisors with a professional license within one year.

          Mr. Adisorn Sermchaiwong, Deputy Managing Director of Retail Banking at CIMB Thai Bank, revealed that after the bank revamped its branch channels to enhance financial advisory services last year, 2018 will see the bank advance its Wealth business further by focusing on the key element: people. This is to keep pace with the rapidly changing banking landscape driven by emerging technologies. The channels for financial transactions have been developed to be more convenient, faster, and easier through digital banking. Additionally, there is a noticeable increase in public awareness regarding savings and investments, with more individuals planning their finances for retirement. The government is also prioritizing savings in its national agenda. All these factors are pushing the bank to cultivate a new generation of financial professionals to meet the growing demand, leading to the creation of the program to develop top-notch professional financial advisors under the name “Wealth STAR”, aimed at introducing a new breed of financial advisors into the market who can provide beneficial financial advice that meets clients' needs with understanding.

          The bank will leverage its strengths in Wealth combined with the real-world experience of CIMB staff, integrating knowledge of a diverse range of financial products, including complex products that have been integrated from the CIMB group across ASEAN. This will serve to impart knowledge to the new generation of Wealth STAR candidates who possess a strong passion to take on roles in modern banking that go beyond just deposits and product offerings, but involve more complex and challenging tasks.

          “To become a Wealth STAR, it is not necessary to be exceptionally talented, have outstanding academic results, or graduate from a prestigious university abroad. What we seek are young individuals who are eager to become financial advisors, who know they want to pursue this career, who wish to educate others, and who want to help clients plan their finances by understanding their identities rather than just selling products. They want to help clients realize their dreams and see those around them happy, as these qualities reflect a positive and rare attitude. We will be mentors, providing knowledge and training skills to create a new group of professionals in the financial career path in a short time. At the same time, we will not abandon our existing staff, as our broader goal is to build a community of financial advisors that brings together experienced advisors and new financial advisors who understand the behaviors of Generation Y to learn and grow together,” Mr. Adisorn stated.

          Ms. Kanokpai Wongsathitporn, Deputy Managing Director of Human Resources at CIMB Thai Bank, revealed that the Wealth STAR program is a pilot initiative for the bank to adapt its recruitment and development processes to align with the changes in business in the Industry 4.0 era, without limiting the knowledge base or work experience in finance and banking. Therefore, the Wealth STAR program is open to everyone who has a passion and desire to grow into a financial advisory career, welcoming applications from recent graduates in all fields or individuals with up to two years of work experience, including both external applicants and internal employees wishing to transition into this career path.

          The Wealth STAR program will accept applications from February 1 to March 22, 2018. Applicants must go through a rigorous selection process, including interviews with executives or participation in an Assessment Center to identify candidates who shine as Wealth STAR professional financial advisors in the first cohort of 25 individuals. The bank will announce the selection results on May 9, 2018.

          Ms. Kanokpai stated that selected Wealth STAR candidates will undergo specialized training in a curriculum developed specifically for them, designed to suit the learners' backgrounds, in collaboration between the bank and experts from various institutions under the CIMB Wealth Academy. The exciting aspect awaiting them is that the 25 Wealth STAR candidates will not only learn the fundamentals of banking and investment business, sales and service skills, and personality development in the role of a professional financial advisor in the classroom, but will also gain on-the-job training both domestically and internationally. They will have opportunities to participate in significant activities, conferences, and seminars, connected through a strong network within ASEAN and beyond, providing a golden opportunity for Wealth STAR candidates to learn, meet, and work with financial gurus and experts from various fields, both locally and internationally, and to experience the culture of a multinational organization like CIMB Group and its business partners.

          “The Wealth STAR program is a new dimension waiting for you. If you become a Wealth STAR, throughout your learning journey, you will have a mentor to provide guidance and listen to you. Even more special, the bank will sponsor your financial advisor and financial planner license exams. We will help you achieve the goal of becoming a top-notch professional financial advisor within 1 year. If you pass the initial stage, you will be able to take your first strong step into the position of financial advisor with CIMB Thai Bank for a duration of 1 year. Although the total time spent may only be 2 years in this learning environment, it can be said that the quality is equivalent to a normal career path of 5 years, with opportunities to become a skilled financial advisor that is hard to find. There are opportunities for significant career growth in this field, depending on whether you seize this opportunity,” Ms. Kanokpai stated.

Interested individuals can submit their applications at www.cimbthai.com or [email protected] from February 1 to March 22, 2018. For further inquiries, please call 02 626 7777.

Thank you for the information from  www.cimbthai.com