Becoming a financial advisor and joining my father in the business was not actually a no-brainer from the start. Since I studied marketing and communications in university, I thought that I would graduate and find an entry-level marketing position somewhere. However, the more I learned about the different opportunities and benefits of being an independent advisor, the more I considered joining my father. As I weighed out the pros and cons, I realized that the attributes I gained from playing university and semi-pro baseball would be directly applied to this profession – always seeking to improve my skills, being consistent and diligent with my routines, and never letting my emotions influence my processes. In 2020, when we were all stuck inside, I made up my mind that I was going to fully commit to becoming an advisor.
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THE DFSIN DIFFERENCE
Joshua's Story
FROM PRO-BASEBALL TO FINANCIAL ADVISORY
When Joshua graduated from university and started looking at career options, becoming a financial advisor alongside his father Tony Wray, a veteran advisor of two decades, wasn’t the obvious first choice. However, the more he learned about the different opportunities and benefits of being an independent advisor, the more he found himself drawn to this possibility. He also realized that the attributes he gained from playing university and semi-pro baseball would be great assets to this profession. That really helped him make up his mind to fully commit to this seemingly unlikely career for him.
“The ongoing support from the financial centre is crucial to our success, giving us the peace of mind to run our business smoothly.”
Joshua Wray, B.A.
Mutual Fund Representative
Life and Health Insurance Advisor
DFSIN BC
Surrey, BC
A CONVERSATION WITH JOSHUA WRAY
My father and I have been working side by side for about 5 years now, and it has been amazing so far. I am fortunate to have him as my “mentor”, with all the knowledge and experience that he has. As business partners, we have different skillsets, which, I think, complement each other in a very positive way. I am also very privileged to have such a great team of fellow advisors and support staff here in our Surrey, BC office as well as in Calgary. Since we moved to this office a couple years ago, it was evident that the team culture and environment would be a positive influence on our business and on a personal level. Everyone from our team here are incredible people, and it makes coming to the office a lot more enjoyable.
Being partners with my father, and being a part of his succession plan, we are always discussing how it may come about in a few years. As of right now, I am slowly integrating into a key role in our business. I am involved with all our business development plans, as well as communication with clients. The support that we have gotten from the network has made this process quite easy so far. They are very helpful in directing us in the right way.
The biggest may be ageism. Because of my age and level of experience (relative to other advisors), I am often overlooked by clients. I always feel like I need to go the extra mile to prove myself, which is something I am not new to. I had to prove myself as a baseball player my whole life, so I am very used to that. I believe that, if I am consistent, trustworthy and acting on my client’s best interests, I will gain their respect in due time. With all the experience we have from the other advisors at our financial centre, I can reach out to them for guidance whenever I run into certain issues. Since transitioning over to the Surrey office, I have noticed a dramatic change in my progression as an advisor. Everyone here has their own “niche”, and I am fortunate that I can learn from them every day.
