Experience

• 

  Commonwealth Financial Network

  • Waltham, MA

  • Internal Consultant, Practice Management

    • Oct 2012 - Present
    • Waltham, MA

    I work with independent financial advisors on a range of business issues including business planning, marketing, growth, operational efficiencies and continuity/succession. My focus is business continuity and succession planning, from the identification of a potential continuity partner, through the negotiation process, and culminating in a signed buy/sell agreement. Commonwealth Financial Network is the largest privately held dually registered independent broker/dealer and investment advisor in the United States.

• 

  Self employed

  • Cambridge, MA

  • Writer

    • Apr 2005 - Present
    • Cambridge, MA

    In 2005, I paused my financial services career to pursue a lifelong writing avocation. Since then, I have written pieces for National Public Radio, Animal Wellness, and the anthology, Here Come the Brides(2012, Kort and Bilger, eds.). Currently, I have written, and am submitting for publication, a series of essays about my mother. You can find examples of my writing at BetteSkandalis.wordpress.com.

• 

  MetLife

  • Greater Boston Area

  • VP-Financial Planning

    • 2000 - 2005
    • Greater Boston Area

    • Developed vision, strategy, training and operational systems for new FP department• Achieved 100% planning growth for two years at New England Financial division• Achieved 30% average annual planning growth at MetLife division• Produced industry-recognized Financial Planning conference for two years

• 

  American Express Financial Advisors

  • Field Vice President/District Manager/Financial Planner/Consultant

    • 1986 - 2000

    • Led one of five largest national offices to 15% sales growth year over year• As one over 100 sales offices, hired 10% of national sales force in one year• Performed in the top sales quartile of American Express offices • Master Leader awarded in first year as FVP for distinguished achievement in leadership• Achieved #1 rank as District Manager of 400 districts nationally• Recruited and trained over 50 new financial planners, consistently achieving top 10% ranking• Owned local marketing function in business reorganization, for which Boston market was a Pilot• Achieved Master Leader award for distinguished leadership as District Manager for 4 of 6 years• Built and developed personal practice of 500 clients• Selected Outstanding First Year Advisor for highest sales productivity in local organization• Awarded Career Development Conference (top five percent ranking) as a second year planner• Awarded Advanced Advisor Group status for nine years for distinguished service as a planner• Co-chaired committee responsible for sales force leadership re-design• Developed training systems for newly designed national sales organization• Delivered relationship marketing training to forty leadership teams nationally• Developed and delivered training curriculum for recommendations, Center of Influence seminar, Natural Market and Client Acquisition Marketing Planning for over half of the national field force via leadership teams• Moved sales force culture from extensive cold calling to relationship oriented marketing to protect American Express brand