SWNOVELXO 104
‘May I take him and use him?’
Sim Ju-won, CEO of Yuseong Investment Securities, who had been free of worries until this morning, found himself mired in various concerns after the storm had passed.
‘No, that won’t do.’
‘He’s too valuable to keep as a PB. If he were to handle larger sums…’
‘I know, that’s why I’m planning to transfer him to headquarters soon.’
He had responded with words he hadn’t considered, caught up in the other’s pace. Of course, he had thought about bringing the young man to headquarters someday, but not in this manner.
“They say an awl in a sack will eventually poke through…”
He had hoped to keep Dokyung hidden a bit longer, gaining experience in the industry, but the young man was exceptional—perhaps too exceptional.
Even without trying to showcase himself like others, he shone by his very nature.
And so…
“Of all places, it had to be KFSG.”
Sim Ju-won couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
KFSG, led by Kang Sung-ho, was known for snatching up all the outstanding professionals in the domestic securities industry.
If they heard even a whisper about someone being exceptional, they would offer salaries above the industry average, making it impossible for talented individuals not to choose them.
And now, of all people, Kang Sung-ho had taken notice, creating an unexpected competition.
“What’s the point of further deliberation?”
Muttering this to himself, Sim Ju-won picked up the phone on his desk.
“Ah, Team Leader Seo, can you come up now? Yes. Come right away.”
After summoning someone, Sim Ju-won seemed lost in thought again, repeatedly tapping his fingers on the desk.
Knock knock-
“Come in.”
At the sound of knocking, he spoke, and the door opened as the person he had just called entered.
“Ah, Team Leader Seo.”
“You called for me, CEO?”
The man bowed in greeting and approached the desk.
“Do you remember Yoon Dokyung?”
At the mention of Dokyung’s name, the man nodded as if the face immediately came to mind.
“How could I forget? Just when I’m about to, news of him surfaces again.”
Sim Ju-won chuckled at the man’s words. The person standing before him was Seo Yong-won, the team leader of Wrap Account Team 1 at Yuseong Investment Securities headquarters.
“I still remember the multiple mini-interviews from the mock investment competition.”
He was also the person who had asked Dokyung questions during the in-house mock investment competition that had been a turning point for Dokyung.
“I hear Team 1 needs additional personnel?”
“Yes, we need someone to handle the macro side. The market is so difficult these days. One person isn’t enough.”
“How about Yoon Dokyung?”
“Pardon?”
Seo Yong-won opened his mouth with a surprised expression at Sim Ju-won’s words.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s the top fund-raiser at the Leaders Center. Would that be okay? If he leaves…”
“Of course, I’ve considered that concern as well.”
Surprisingly, clients tend to stick with a PB they’ve chosen for quite a long time.
They believe their judgment wasn’t wrong, and as long as there are no major mistakes, PBs generally deliver returns above a certain level.
“But I think the time has come.”
Seo Yong-won pondered for a moment at Sim Ju-won’s words.
The work of a PB and a wrap account manager was different.
Wrap account managers directly operate accounts with discretionary investment from clients.
Of course, PBs also had wrap account products where they directly managed accounts, but this meant managing a small number of clients.
In contrast, wrap accounts managed at headquarters had to handle hundreds, sometimes even thousands of clients.
“I’m sure you have concerns.”
Despite Sim Ju-won’s words, Seo Yong-won couldn’t easily shake off his worries. He was concerned about whether a PB could adapt to the atmosphere here, which operated under a strict team system.
PBs were respected for their individual judgments because they received most of their performance bonuses based on their investment results.
However, wrap accounts often followed the team’s conclusions rather than individual judgments, operating under a strict team member system.
“But I’d like to bring him to headquarters and train him before he becomes too ingrained as a PB. Wouldn’t that work?”
As Sim Ju-won spoke, Seo Yong-won nodded reluctantly.
“We’ll do as you say. He’s an exceptional individual. However, if we determine he doesn’t fit with our team, may I report back to you at any time?”
Seo Yong-won added a condition, but Sim Ju-won nodded as if such terms were only natural.
“That’s fine.”
“Yes, I’ll follow your instructions, CEO.”
Sim Ju-won smiled at Seo Yong-won, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
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“I’m home.”
Meanwhile, Dokyung entered his house with a tired expression.
“Why does your face look like that these days?”
His mother asked worriedly, seeing Dokyung’s gaunt face.
“Ah, we have a vacancy in the team. It’s been tough covering that work too.”
Since Han Dahyun’s resignation, they were supposed to get a replacement, but in the meantime, Dokyung had taken on most of the clients Han Dahyun had been handling.
As a result, work hours alone weren’t enough, and he had no choice but to cut into his sleep time.
“I’ll rest a bit and then wash up.”
“Alright, I understand.”
As Dokyung spoke, his mother nodded sympathetically, and Dokyung collapsed onto his bed as soon as he entered his room.
“Whew, they say you don’t notice where someone came from, but you sure notice where they left.”
Moreover, Han Dahyun had been handling quite a few specialized investments. For example, investments in startups rather than stocks or bonds.
As a result, Dokyung had to juggle work and study these days.
“I should wash up quickly and prepare tomorrow’s reports for the clients…”
Even as Dokyung said this, he fell asleep, seemingly unable to bear the weight of his closing eyelids.
Bzzt-
Startled by the vibration from the smartwatch on his wrist, Dokyung jolted awake and checked the time.
“I fell asleep.”
He had unknowingly dozed off for 30 minutes.
Dokyung immediately checked the notification, and a smile involuntarily spread across his face.
“All my fatigue is gone.”
Muttering this to himself, Dokyung took out his phone and accessed an app labeled “Cat Photo Collection.”
The source of the notification was a message.
[This is the VIP Service that always cheers for you.]
[The word ‘common practice’ is truly frightening and irresponsible.]
[Illegal acts armed with the excuse of ‘common practice’ go unchecked, and instead, all market participants arm themselves with the armor of ‘common practice’.]
The message was pointing out how Tribe had armed itself with the excuse of startup investment industry practices.
[If ‘common practices’ continue, these actions will be seen as normal behavior, and the truth will inevitably be hidden.]
[In such an environment, everyone’s means are focused solely on the goal of ‘success’, and in this environment, the victims are always individuals.]
Dokyung sympathized with the message’s words.
Technically superior institutional investors would surely spot opportunities to exit before incurring losses.
On the other hand, everything the institutional investors throw away to avoid losses is ultimately picked up by individuals lacking information, and when the whole truth comes to light later, the damage is fully borne by individuals.
[In that sense, Yoon Dokyung-ssi’s actions in excellently carrying out this mission deserve praise.]
[We have provided a reward accordingly.]
[This is the VIP Service that always cheers for you.]
As the message ended like this, Dokyung tilted his head quizzically.
It said a reward had been given, but he hadn’t received anything.
“Oh, is this it?”
After thinking for a while, Dokyung noticed something new in the app menu and pressed it.
[Terminal Remote Control]
Upon confirming the menu, Dokyung’s eyes widened.
It was a menu that allowed remote control of the Bloomberg Terminal in the hideout given by the message as a reward, via his mobile phone.
Some might call it a small reward, but for Dokyung, it was truly a great one.
“Can I check this on my phone now?”
The Bloomberg Terminal could check almost all indicators related to macroeconomics. However, it could only be accessed through a dedicated terminal, so Dokyung had to go to the hideout whenever he needed to check indicators.
But if he could remotely control it with his phone, he could check indicators regardless of location.
“This is amazing.”
Dokyung began checking various economic indicators like a child who had received a desired toy as a gift.
“No delay either.”
There could have been lag due to remote control, but he could check all indicators smoothly without any such issues.
“Thank you. I really needed this.”
Dokyung muttered as if someone was listening and got up from his seat.
“I should wash up and get to work.”
The reward given by the message at a moment of fatigue was more than an energy booster for Dokyung.
It was because of the expectation that he could immediately use these indicators to provide richer reports to his clients tomorrow.
Dokyung smiled as he headed to the bathroom to wash up.
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“Dokyung-ssi, the quality of the reports you’ve been uploading to the group chat has improved lately. How are the clients reacting?”
A week later, during the morning meeting of Yuseong Investment Securities’ Personal Asset Team 3, Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan asked Dokyung.
“The clients appreciate that supporting data is included for what I say.”
The reward Dokyung received from the message a week ago was truly a great reward for him.
Recently, as the quality of the daily market reports Dokyung sent to clients every morning improved, there were more cases of clients praising Dokyung.
“As expected, the clients like it too. I was quite surprised myself.”
Seo Jeonghwan continued speaking to Dokyung with a smile.
“I thought you might have personally rented a Bloomberg Terminal.”
“Ah, it’s not like that. I just found materials here and there.”
“That’s good. Actually, clients often doubt whether the reports we send are true, even as they read them. They don’t show it, but they do.”
Dokyung nodded at Seo Jeonghwan’s words. He understood the sentiment of not being able to trust 100%, even experts, when it came to investing money.
“But when these indicators are added, clients can see at a glance whether what the manager is claiming is true or not.”
“I was surprised too. Dokyung-ssi’s reports are almost of the quality that comes out of the research center.”
As even another senior said this, Dokyung smiled shyly.
“Shouldn’t we learn from this too?”
Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan spoke to the other team members.
“Let’s not think of it as mechanically sending daily market reports, but strive to earn the trust of the clients who have entrusted their assets to us.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Good. Then let’s all do our best this week too…”
Bzzt-
Just as he was about to conclude the meeting, Seo Jeonghwan’s mobile phone on the table vibrated, and after checking the caller ID, he quickly pressed the answer button.
“Yes, Center Director. This is Seo Jeonghwan.”
-…
“What? So suddenly?”
Seo Jeonghwan asked the Center Director on the other end of the line in a loud voice, as if surprised by something.
“Yes. If that’s what headquarters has decided, I suppose I have to follow. But our team… Yes, I understand. Yes, yes. I’ll convey that.”
After ending the call, Seo Jeonghwan looked at the team members waiting for him, all wearing expressions that seemed to ask what was going on.
“We have something to celebrate.”
Seo Jeonghwan said this as he looked at Dokyung.
“An order has come down from headquarters for Dokyung-ssi’s position transfer.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s an order to transfer Dokyung-ssi to headquarters.”
Dokyung, who had asked back without knowing what was going on, froze in place with a surprised expression as Seo Jeonghwan’s words seemed to confirm the kill.