genworth hangs out ‘cpa wanted’ sign

the shy and retiring need not apply.

genworth financial investment services inc. plans to hire 325 registered representatives this year, a 14% increase, according to investment news. the schaumburg, ill.-based company, a wholly owned subsidiary of richmond, va.-based genworth financial inc., is targeting certified public accountants for its hiring spree. about 80% percent of genworth’s reps are accountants.but can cpas sell? “they’re very hard to work with,” said jonathan henschen, president of henschen & associates, a recruiting firm in marine on st. croix, minn.

on the other hand: enrique vasquez, president and chief executive of genworth financial investment services, said, “a sole practitioner will have 300 to 500 clients he works with. if he’s able to only leverage 50% of that, that’s still 150 to 250 clients that a typical adviser would have difficulty getting.”

norm mindel, a financial adviser with genworth, adds, “if you’re an accountant or a cpa, you don’t need to make a sale to pay the rent. you’re more fair and judicious, because you don’t want to jeopardize the relationship. cpas don’t want to abuse that trust. they’re not going to be salesmen. they’re far more thoughtful.”