20 Old Mutual Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview for a position with Old Mutual, you can expect to be asked questions that are specific to the company and the financial services industry. Here are some examples of Old Mutual interview questions that you may be asked, along with tips on how to answer them.

1. What do you know about Old Mutual?

When you are asked this question, the interviewer is looking to see if you have done your research on the company and if you are familiar with its history and products. Old Mutual was founded in 1845 in South Africa and is now a global financial services company with operations in more than 30 countries. Some of the products and services that Old Mutual offers include life insurance, investment management, and banking.

2. Why are you interested in working for Old Mutual?

Your answer to this question should focus on what you can bring to the company and how your skills and experience can benefit Old Mutual. For example, you might say that you are interested in working for Old Mutual because of your interest in the financial services industry and your belief that Old Mutual is a company that is poised for growth.

3. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Old Mutual?

When you are asked this question

Old Mutual Interview Process

The interview process at Old Mutual is relatively quick and easy. Most applicants will go through a preliminary interview, followed by a physical interview. The interviews are mostly competency-based, focusing on the applicant’s skills and experience. However, some technical questions may also be asked. Overall, the experience is generally positive, with most applicants finding the interviewers to be friendly and professional.

1. How would you describe your financial advisory style?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would fit into their company culture. Old Mutual is a large financial institution that offers many different services, so it’s important to show your ability to work with clients of all ages and backgrounds.

Example: “I believe in building long-term relationships with my clients. I like to get to know them personally and learn about their goals and values. This helps me create personalized investment plans for each client based on their unique needs. My goal is always to make sure they’re comfortable with their investments and feel confident in their decisions.”

2. Tell us about a time when you had to make an important decision regarding money but didn’t have enough information or data, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of how you make decisions and whether or not you have experience making important financial decisions. Use your answer to highlight your critical thinking skills, ability to research information and data and your willingness to take calculated risks when necessary.

Example: “In my last position as an investment advisor, I had to make a decision about which stocks to recommend to clients without having all the information I would typically need to make that decision. In this case, I relied on my previous knowledge of the company’s performance and recent news stories to determine if it was a good stock for my clients. Ultimately, I decided to recommend the stock because I felt confident in my assessment.”

3. What is the biggest challenge facing the financial services industry today?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your knowledge about the industry and how you might fit in. Your answer should show that you understand the challenges facing the financial services industry, but also that you have ideas for overcoming them.

Example: “The biggest challenge facing the financial services industry today is customer experience. Customers are more informed than ever before, so they expect to be able to do everything online or on their phones. They want to be able to reach out to someone when they need help, but they don’t want to wait on hold for long periods of time. Companies that can find ways to meet these needs will be successful.”

4. Old Mutual wants to develop long term relationships with our clients, how would you approach this as a financial advisor?

Old Mutual wants to know that you understand the importance of building relationships with clients. This is a key part of their business, and they want to make sure you can do this effectively. In your answer, explain how you would approach this process and what steps you would take to ensure you’re meeting client needs.

Example: “I believe it’s important to build long-term relationships with my clients because I think it leads to better service. When I first meet a new client, I like to get to know them as much as possible so I can learn about their financial goals and concerns. From there, I develop a plan based on their unique situation. I also like to check in regularly to see if anything has changed or if they have any questions.”

5. If a client came in and they were having problems with their budgeting how would you approach them?

This question is a great way to test your customer service skills. It also allows the interviewer to see how you would interact with their clients and customers. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you helped someone with budgeting or financial planning.

Example: “I find that many people have trouble managing their money because they don’t know where all of their money goes each month. I always encourage my clients to keep track of their spending for at least one month so they can get an idea of where their money is going. This helps them create realistic budgets that are easy to follow.”

6. Do you have any experience working with investment products such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of financial products and how you apply that knowledge in your work. If you have experience working with investment products, describe what you did and how it helped your team or company.

Example: “I’ve worked with stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other types of investments during my time as an analyst at Smith & Jones Financial Group. I was responsible for researching different companies and their stock prices, which allowed me to learn more about the market and make informed decisions on which stocks were most likely to increase in value.”

7. Describe your approach to financial risk management.

Old Mutual Group is a financial institution that offers investment and savings products to its clients. As such, it’s important for the company to have employees who can manage risk effectively. Your answer should show your ability to understand how different factors affect risk management.

Example: “I believe that there are two types of risks in business—systemic and operational. Systemic risks are those that occur due to external factors like market volatility or political instability. Operational risks, on the other hand, are those that arise from within an organization. I use quantitative analysis tools to assess both systemic and operational risks. This helps me develop strategies to mitigate these risks.”

8. Can you explain what liquidity means in relation to investing?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of financial terms and concepts. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example or two that shows how you use the term in your work.

Example: “Liquidity refers to the ability to convert assets into cash without losing value. In my last role as a portfolio manager, I had to consider liquidity when choosing which stocks to invest in. For instance, if a company has low liquidity, meaning its stock isn’t easily traded on the open market, then it’s not a good investment because there are fewer buyers and sellers, so the price may fluctuate more than other companies with higher liquidity.”

9. Have you ever been in a position where you felt that you needed more training/education before advising a customer?

Old Mutual Group is looking for employees who are willing to learn and grow. They want to know that you’re open to feedback, criticism and new ideas.

Example: “I’ve been in this position before, but I was able to find the answers to my questions by researching online or asking a colleague. In my last role, I had a customer ask me about investing in cryptocurrency. While I knew some information about it, I needed more clarification on how cryptocurrencies work and what risks they have. I researched several articles and asked a coworker with more experience about their thoughts on cryptocurrencies.”

10. Give an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a client.

Old Mutual is a company that values its customers, so it’s important to show you can provide excellent customer service. When answering this question, think of a time when you went above and beyond for a client or helped them in some way.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a client who was having trouble with their account. They called us several times about the issue, but they were still having problems. Finally, I offered to meet with them in person to help solve the problem. After talking with them, I realized there was an error on our end. We fixed the issue right away and sent them a gift card as an apology.”

11. How do you manage your personal finances?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your financial management skills and how you apply them to your personal life. Use examples from your previous experience to show that you have a plan for managing your money, whether it’s through budgeting or saving.

Example: “I use an online budgeting tool to track my spending and make sure I’m staying within my monthly budget. I also set up automatic transfers so that I don’t forget to pay bills on time. This has helped me avoid late fees in the past and keep my credit score high.”

12. Explain why portfolio diversification is important.

Old Mutual Group is a global investment company, so it’s likely that you’ll be asked to explain why portfolio diversification is important. This question tests your knowledge of financial concepts and how they apply to the industry. In your answer, demonstrate your understanding of what portfolio diversification is and how it can benefit investors.

Example: “Portfolio diversification is an essential part of investing because it helps reduce risk by spreading money across different types of investments. For example, if I invest in only one stock, then if something happens to that stock, my entire portfolio will suffer. However, if I spread my money among several stocks, bonds, commodities and other assets, then even if something goes wrong with one asset, my overall portfolio may not be affected as much.”

13. Why do you want to work at Old Mutual?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. Use your answer to highlight any personal connections you have with Old Mutual or how much you enjoy working in the financial industry.

Example: “I want to work at Old Mutual because I am passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals. My grandfather worked as an insurance agent for Old Mutual, so I grew up hearing stories about his career. He inspired me to pursue a career in finance, and I would love to continue the legacy of my family by working here.”

14. At Old Mutual we pride ourselves on being ethical and fair, tell me about a time that you had to put ethics into practice.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are honest and trustworthy. It also shows them how you make ethical decisions in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of a time when you had to choose between two options and explain why you made the decision you did.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was looking for a new financial advisor. I met with him and discussed his goals and what he wanted from a financial advisor. He told me that he wanted someone who would always put his best interests first. After meeting with him, I decided to decline the position because I knew that he would not be happy with my advice if I were to take the job. I felt that I could not provide him with the service he deserved.”

15. What are some common mistakes people make when managing their finances?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you might handle a client who is making financial mistakes. Use your answer to show that you have experience helping clients make better decisions with their money and understand what not to do when managing finances.

Example: “I’ve seen many people make several common mistakes when it comes to managing their finances, including spending too much on unnecessary items, failing to save for retirement early enough in life and investing without doing proper research. I always encourage my clients to avoid these mistakes by creating a budget, saving 10% of their income and researching investment options before committing.”

16. A lot of people come to a financial advisor because they don’t know where to start, how would you help someone who was new to investing?

This question is a great way to show your customer service skills and how you can help people who are new to investing. It’s important to be patient with clients, especially if they’re not familiar with the financial world.

Example: “I would start by asking them what their goals were for investing. I’d also ask about their risk tolerance so that I could find an investment strategy that was right for them. For example, someone who is more conservative might want to invest in mutual funds or bonds while someone who is more aggressive may want to invest in stocks.”

17. What do you think will be the most challenging part of this job?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’ve done some research on the company and understand what it’s like to work there. It also gives them an opportunity to explain what they think the most challenging part of their job is, which can be helpful if you’re unsure about what to expect.

Example: “I think the most challenging part of this job will be working with so many different people from all over the world. I’m used to working in a smaller office where everyone knows each other, so I’m excited to learn how to communicate effectively with employees who speak different languages or have different cultural backgrounds.”

18. How do you keep up with changes in the investment world?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re interested in learning about the latest developments in your industry. They want to know that you’ll be able to contribute to their company’s success by using new strategies and tools to help clients achieve their financial goals.

Example: “I’m passionate about my career, so I regularly read investment news and blogs to stay up-to-date on current events. I also attend conferences and seminars to learn from experts in the field. I believe it’s important for me to continue learning because there are always new ways to improve my client service.”

19. Are you familiar with Financial Services Board (FSB) regulations?

The FSB is a South African regulatory body that oversees the financial services industry. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are familiar with regulations in your country and how they apply to Old Mutual Group. If you’re not familiar with the FSB, it’s important to show that you can learn about them quickly.

Example: “I am familiar with the Financial Services Board (FSB) in my home country of Canada. I have worked for several companies that were regulated by the FSB. In fact, I’ve had to complete an annual compliance report before. I understand that there are similar regulatory bodies in other countries, including South Africa. I would be happy to research any additional regulations that might apply to Old Mutual Group.”

20. How do you decide which investments are right for a client?

This question can help the interviewer understand your investment strategy and how you apply it to clients. Use examples from previous experience that show your ability to analyze a client’s needs and make appropriate recommendations.

Example: “I always start by asking my client what their goals are for investing. I find out if they’re looking for long-term growth or short-term gains, and whether they want more risk or less risk in their portfolio. Then I look at their current financial situation and determine which investments would be best suited to meet those goals. For example, when working with a family who wanted to save for their child’s college education, I recommended an index fund because it was a low-risk way to grow their money over time.”