20 Empower Interview Questions and Answers

Empower is a financial services company that offers wealth management, IRA, investing, retirement products, and fiduciary advisory services. The company has a wide range of products and services, which means that there are a variety of interview questions that potential employees may be asked. In this article, we will provide some sample questions and answers that may be helpful for those who are preparing for an interview with Empower.

Empower Interview Process

The interview process at Empower can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screen with a recruiter, followed by an in-person or video interview with the hiring manager. For some positions, you may also be required to complete a timed writing sample or take a math assessment. Overall, the interview process is relatively standard and should not take more than a few weeks from start to finish.

1. What would you say are the most important qualities in a good financial advisor?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful in this role. When answering, consider discussing qualities that are important for advisors and how they can help clients achieve their financial goals.

Example: “I believe the most important quality in a good advisor is integrity. A client should feel confident that their advisor has their best interests at heart and will always act with honesty and transparency. Another important quality is knowledge. Advisors need to stay up-to-date on current events and trends so they can provide their clients with relevant information about their finances.”

2. Why should we hire you over someone else with similar qualifications?

This question is a great opportunity to show your confidence and enthusiasm for the role. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight any unique skills or experiences that you have that make you an ideal candidate.

Example: “I am confident that I would be an excellent addition to Empower because of my ability to work well with others and my extensive knowledge of financial services. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in several different roles where I was responsible for helping customers understand their options and making recommendations based on their needs. I believe these skills will help me succeed as a representative at Empower.”

3. How do you prioritize your tasks?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and determine which tasks to complete first. Use examples from previous experience to explain how you plan your day, week or month and what steps you take to ensure you meet deadlines.

Example: “I use a planner to keep track of my daily, weekly and monthly goals. I find that this helps me stay organized and on task with my projects. In my last role, I used my planner to write down all of my tasks for the day and prioritize them based on their urgency. This helped me manage my time more effectively so I could get through my entire list each day.”

4. Tell me about a time that you had to communicate complex information and how did you present it so that everyone understood?

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and how you can help clients understand complex financial information. Use examples from previous roles or experiences where you had to explain something in detail and the client understood what you were saying.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for helping clients with their retirement accounts. Many of them didn’t have much experience investing, so I would take time to explain everything they needed to know about IRAs and other investment products. I used analogies that made it easier for them to understand the process.”

5. What is your experience working in a team environment?

Empower is a team-oriented company, so it’s important to show that you can work well with others. When answering this question, describe your experience working in a team and how you contributed to the success of the group.

Example: “In my previous role as an investment advisor, I worked on a team of five advisors who all had different areas of expertise. We each took turns meeting with clients and offering advice based on our individual strengths. For example, one advisor was great at helping clients understand their retirement options while another excelled at helping clients invest in stocks. By collaborating together, we were able to offer more comprehensive services to our clients.”

6. Are you comfortable making phone calls to clients on a regular basis?

This question is a good way to determine if the company you’re interviewing with has a strong focus on customer service. If they do, it’s likely that you’ll be expected to make regular phone calls to clients and other stakeholders.

Example: “I have experience making cold calls to potential clients in my previous role as an investment advisor. I find that this skill can help me build rapport with new clients and get them excited about our services. However, I also understand that some people are uncomfortable talking to salespeople over the phone. In these situations, I try to use empathy to put the client at ease.”

7. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to this position?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, think of two or three strengths that you can relate to the job description and how they would help you succeed in the role. Then, think of two or three weaknesses that are not relevant to the position and explain how you plan to improve them.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills. I have experience working as part of a team and collaborating with others on projects. My weakness is my attention to detail. In previous positions, I’ve learned to use technology to help me stay organized and keep track of details.”

8. Do you have any experience working with people from different cultures?

Empower is a global company, and they want to know if you have experience working with people from different cultures. This question can help them determine whether or not you are prepared for the international nature of their business. If you do have experience working internationally, share that information with them.

Example: “I worked at my previous job in an office where we had employees from all over the world. I was responsible for helping them learn our systems and processes so they could complete their work efficiently. I also helped train new hires who were native English speakers. I found it easy to communicate with everyone because I am fluent in Spanish.”

9. Have you ever received criticism on your performance, how did you handle the situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to accept feedback and use it to improve. When answering, try to focus on the steps you took to address the issue and how you used the feedback to grow as a professional.

Example: “I once had an investor who was unhappy with my performance. I met with them in person to discuss their concerns and learned that they were looking for someone who could provide more personalized service. I offered to help find another financial advisor who might be a better fit for them. They appreciated my honesty and agreed to meet with another advisor.”

10. Describe a time where you were given an assignment that was outside of your job description, how did you approach the task and what did you learn from it?

This question is a great way to show your willingness to learn and grow as an employee. It also shows that you are willing to take on challenges and work hard to achieve results.

Example: “When I first started working at my previous company, I was hired for the role of a customer service representative. However, after a few months, the company needed someone to fill in for their retirement advisor while they searched for a replacement. I accepted the challenge and learned how to provide financial advice to customers who were looking for help with their investments.”

11. We like to make sure our customers are happy, describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.

This question is a great way to show your customer service skills and how you can help others. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the impact of your actions on the customer.

Example: “I once had a client who was looking for an investment that would provide them with a steady income while also growing their money over time. I spent hours researching different options until I found one that fit all of their needs. They were so happy with my research and dedication that they referred me to two other clients.”

12. Some of our employees work remotely, are you okay with telecommuting if needed?

This question is a good way to determine if the candidate will be able to work in an environment that requires them to telecommute. If you have employees who work remotely, it’s important to make sure they’re comfortable with this arrangement and understand how to effectively communicate with their team members while working away from the office.

Example: “I am very comfortable working remotely as I do so currently at my current job. I find that having a quiet space where I can focus on my work helps me get more done than when I’m in an open office setting. I also use tools like Slack and Zoom for communication with my team.”

13. Why did you choose to go into finance?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the industry and how you can apply it to this role. When answering, be sure to highlight what inspired you to pursue a career in finance.

Example: “Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated with money management. My parents were always very frugal, so I learned early on that saving money could help me achieve my goals. In high school, I started working part-time at a local bank where I helped customers open new accounts and learn about different investment opportunities. This experience solidified my interest in pursuing a career in finance.”

14. If hired, what contribution could you bring to Empower?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight what makes you unique as well as any skills or experience that will help Empower succeed.

Example: “I believe my ability to build relationships with clients would be an asset to Empower. I have always been passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals, so I am excited to work for a company that shares these values. My previous experience working in customer service has helped me develop excellent communication skills, which I think are essential to providing quality client care.”

15. When was the last time you had to deal with an unhappy client, how did you handle the situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to understand how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience resolving customer complaints. In your answer, try to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to resolve conflicts in a positive way.

Example: “In my previous role as an investment advisor, I had a client who was unhappy with the performance of their portfolio. They were looking for more aggressive returns than what we could offer them at our firm. After discussing their concerns, I recommended they speak with another financial advisor about investing in riskier assets that would provide higher returns. The client followed my advice and found a new advisor who met their needs.”

16. Can you tell me about a time when you disagreed with a decision made by management but still had to follow through with it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenging situations at work. It’s important to show that you’re willing to follow instructions from management, even if you don’t agree with them.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial advisor, I disagreed with the company’s decision to eliminate commission-based accounts for clients. However, I understood that it was part of our company’s overall strategy and had to support it. In this case, I worked with my team to find ways to make up for the loss of revenue by offering other services to clients.”

17. What do you know about fiduciary advisory services?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it to Empower. When answering this question, make sure to include what fiduciary advisory services are and why they’re important.

Example: “Fiduciary advisory services are financial advice that’s in the best interest of the client. This means that advisors must act with integrity when giving advice and recommendations. I’ve worked as an advisor for several years now, so I’m familiar with the importance of fiduciary advisory services. In my previous role, I was responsible for helping clients find appropriate investments based on their risk tolerance.”

18. What is the most difficult part of managing a team?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenges and what your leadership style is. Use examples from previous experiences to explain how you overcame a challenge or helped your team overcome it.

Example: “The most difficult part of managing a team is when I have to let someone go. In my last role, we had an employee who was consistently late for work and would leave early without permission. We tried talking with her about her behavior but she continued to come in late and leave early. Eventually, we had to terminate her employment.”

19. Tell us why you want to work at Empower.

This question is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the company and its values. When you answer, make sure to highlight what attracted you to Empower in the first place.

Example: “I want to work at Empower because of its reputation as an ethical financial services provider. I’ve always been passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals, so when I learned that Empower was one of the top companies in this industry, I knew it would be a good fit for me. I’m excited to join such a reputable team.”

20. Our company values integrity and honesty, can you give an example of a time when you showed these qualities?

Integrity and honesty are two qualities that Empower values in its employees. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you demonstrated these qualities.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial advisor, I had a client who was looking for advice on how to invest their money. They were unsure about what they should do with their retirement savings and wanted to know if they should put the money into a Roth IRA or traditional IRA. I explained the differences between the accounts and helped them decide which one would be best for them.”