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Aaron Walters

I worked full time in this job and studied full time simultaneously at Southern Cross University because I did not want to drive forklifts all my life.

I grew up on the NSW and QLD border of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta. My first real job outside of High School was driving forklifts and delivering alcohol to pubs and bottle shops. I worked full time in this job and studied full time simultaneously at Southern Cross University because I did not want to drive forklifts all my life. This work ethic has since set me up in a career I really enjoy and a job that I love. Out of University, I was employed in a Graduate role with CBA's Wealth Management Division in Brisbane City and I am still with CBA as it is a great place to work.

What does your employer do?

I am employed through Commonwealth Financial Planning owned by CBA. What we do is make sure our customers are looked after, at what ever stage of their life that they are in, to help ensure their financial wellbeing.

What are your areas of responsibility?

My main responsibility, once I have identified with a client that I can help them financially, is give them official compliant advice that can show how the advice is in the clients best interest - it is my legal duty to act in this way with every client.

Can you describe a typical work day?

Morning meetings so that everyone knows what everyone has on for the day. Client appointments can dominate the days, however, time is still allocated to the people that you are preparing advice for by gathering the research required to clearly show that the advice is in the clients best interest.

What sort of person succeeds in your career?

Someone that really likes to help people financially and has to be really good with numbers and legislation around what you can and cannot do as an adviser.

What are the career prospects with your job?

The great thing about the CBA is that once you have a job with them they really take an active interest in your development. CBA has its own Registered Training Organisation, so you can upskill and study while on the job to then move to any area that interests you.

What do you love the most about your job?

I love everything about my job - The old saying 'If you love what you do you never work a day in your life.'

What do you like least about your job?

Things I cannot control like the Share Market.

What three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student? 

If opportunities don't come knocking - Build a door!