Independent broker-dealers' business revolves around their representatives, but for the 13th year in a row, IBD Securities America has honored a sometimes-overlooked but crucial member of an advisor's team — the sales assistant. Barbara Pal, an administrative assistant for advisor Bradley Schlang at Cedar Brook Financial Partners in Cleveland, has been named Securities America's annual assistant of the Year for 2013. Pal, who joined Cedar Brook in 2007, will be honored at Securities America's Connect! national conference in San Francisco this June.
Schlang, a CFP and IAR for Securities America Advisors in addition to being a registered rep with Securities America, said in a statement that "every time we have been hit with a challenge, Barbara immediately goes into solution mode." To qualify for the honor, assistants are nominated by a Securities America advisor, have a minimum of two years experience and must show specific instances of service above and beyond expectations to clients, advisors and the firm.
Last month, Pal was named to Securities America's Sales Assistant Advisory Board, a group of 10 assistants who provide "suggestions and feedback on company improvements," according to the IBD.
