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Driven to succeed
Chris Alchian
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Recently accepted into one of Australia's most prestigious financial planning development programs, graduate Chris Alchian is making his mark in a very competitive industry.
By the time Alchian had completed his Bachelor of Commerce in 2001 his talent for marketing and entrepreneurship was well established through his involvement in a variety of student organisations.
Macquarie University seemed the ideal choice for Alchian to undertake study due to its reputation for business, commerce and finance related qualifications.
"My research uncovered that graduates of Macquarie University are widely recognised as having attended one of the best business schools in Australia," he says. "To the present day, a certainty and distinction is evident when communicating that I have a Bachelor of Commerce from Macquarie University."
While Alchian rates invaluable personal growth and solid educational foundation as some of the high points of his time here, he classes building relationships with students, academic staff, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar as highlights.
"My extra involvement on campus enhanced my student experience as I assisted with all the major events on the University's social calendar," he says. "As president of a number of clubs I was also able to gain insight into my leadership and entrepreneurial attributes while adding value to other students' lives."
On campus Alchian was President of the Armenian Students Society and was also involved in organising O-Week, Multicultural Week and Conception Day. Off campus he was the Student Board Advisor for the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).
One of Alchian's first tasks post graduation was to write a marketing plan for the Australian Marketing Institute. This resulted in him being asked to play an advisory role on their state and national boards. From here he was employed as a business consultant to a start up firm which rapidly grew in status and in 2005 was ranked number 22 in Business Review Weekly's Fastest Growing Companies in Australia.
Today Alchian is a financial adviser with AMP after being selected to be part of one of the most prestigious career development programs in the financial planning industry – the AMP Horizons Academy. Alchian was one of only 32 applicants selected out of a possible 400 for the inaugural intake in 2007. And of those 32, six were Macquarie graduates.
The Academy was established to increase the number of advisers in the industry as demands for the services of financial planners are at record highs. The Academy develops individuals from various backgrounds into financial advisers through the combination of training and work experience.
"At the end of our development, we are able to be matched with an existing AMP financial planning practice or be supported in establishing a new practice," he explains.
Alchian, not one to sit on his laurels, is also in the process of undertaking two postgraduate qualifications – an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning) and a Masters of Business Administration. His next goal is to become a Certified Financial Planner through further study and work experience.
"I view life to be an ongoing journey of discovery where opportunities to personally and professionally develop are often found in the successful completion of courses," he says. "Further education can be the key to unlocking doors that otherwise would remain closed."