Timothy CHAN

“Be true to yourself and build good relationships—this is my advice to all young Lingnanians.” Mr Timothy Chan, a graduate of BBA Finance in 2010, is currently the Executive Director in Private Wealth Management Asia of Morgan Stanley. Having gained rich internship experience during his university years, Timothy successfully received the offer of the Management Trainee (MT) Programme at China Construction Bank (Asia) and subsequently worked in private banking at Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) and UBS. By sharing his experiences and insights, he hopes to inspire Lingnan students to reflect on their own life goals.
 
Setting Clear Goals, Enriching Personal Resume 
From his first year at university, Timothy eagerly participated in various career-related activities and internship programs to pave the way for his future career. He joined an internship at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, United States in Year 1; became a student ambassador for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in Year 2; interned at the Census and Statistics Department and also worked part-time at a securities firm. After completing the second year of study, he even took a gap year to intern at Hang Seng Bank. While most students were enjoying a relaxed and leisurely campus life, Timothy had already been focusing on building personal resume and accumulating work experience in financial industry. He revealed that his college entrance exam results were not ideal, which motivated him to strive for progress and put extra effort to catch up in university.
 
Throughout his three years at Lingnan, Timothy accumulated an impressive portfolio of internships in various companies and organizations, often cited by teachers as a template for other students. Timothy thankfully pointed out that he obtained most of the resources through Lingnan. He is particularly grateful with Dr. Kent LAI Wan Lung from Department of Economics, Mr. Albert SUEN and Ms. Sara Chow from Office of Student Affairs for the career guidance provided, especially when he was preparing the interview for an Asia Pacific Associate Programme of an international financial group. Timothy started his job search at the beginning of his third year. He described that period as "frantic", as he was sending out resumes, attending interviews, and even skipping mid-term exams for interviews. He recalled that during an interview for the MT position at a bank, the Human Resources Manager told him they specifically arranged him to be the last interviewee due to his exceptional resume. The MT programme of that year was highly competitive, with two thousand applicants vying for ten spots. Ultimately, Timothy obtained the offer and began his first job after graduation.
 
Encounter with Mentor That Determined the Career Direction 
The three-year MT programme offered Timothy an opportunity to work in different departments and positions. However, the more he experienced, the more confused he felt about his future. “Since MT programme involves a lot of rotations, we usually stay in each department for around three to four months. So even after completing the entire programme, there is only a hazy notion.” At this critical moment, Timothy encountered his mentor, Dr. Paul SIN who was then the head of the IT department at CCB (Asia). Timothy learned that Dr. SIN had a keen interest in Buddhism but was also a devout Catholic. He pursued a master's degree in Buddhist Studies and even learned Sanskrit in order to translate the Buddhist scriptures by himself. Dr. SIN shared many Buddhist principles with Timothy, which greatly inspired him. As he quoted, “Choose a job you love, not one that pays well. Money is merely a by-product... Ten years will be a threshold. When you've been in an industry for over ten years, you'll naturally reach a certain level, then money will follow.” 
 
While many of his peers were chasing investment banking careers, Timothy reflected on Dr. Sin’s words and realized that investment banking was not suitable for him. “I found myself better at people-oriented work and interested in investments. That’s when I decided to pursue a career in personal banking” After leaving CCB (Asia), Timothy joined HSBC as a Client Manager in Mainland China team and equipped himself with different professional qualifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). His real breakthrough came in 2014 when a young department head at UBS Group AG started recruiting new team members and hired him as one of the Client Managers in the team despite of his young age and lack of experience. Timothy deeply appreciated training and learning opportunities offered by his supervisors and seniors, which let him hone his skills and knowledge in the field.
 
Sincerely Treating Clients and Finding Joy in Work 
Private banking services mainly target at high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and families. According to market research, the general requirement for opening an account in private bank is above 5 million USD. Having spent over a decade in the industry, Timothy described his job as intense and demanding, requiring him to monitoring the global stock market, provide timely professional advice for clients and travel frequently across Asia. To stay closely connected with the clients, Timothy would make adjustments in life, such as avoiding destinations with major time zone differences or poor internet connectivity. “To many entrepreneurs, wealth management is not just about investment, it is also about financial security. Therefore, I hope I can provide professional advice whenever my clients need it, so that they feel at ease.” Despite these challenges, Timothy found his work interesting in many ways. “I always treat my clients as friends. If you treat someone wholeheartedly, they can feel it. They invite you to their family gathering, open up to you, talk with you about anything, and even attend your wedding!” He greatly enjoys the experiences and sense of fulfilment gained. Not only does he have the privilege to travel to many domestic and international major cities, learn about different culture, but also listen to the entrepreneurs’ successful stories, assisting them in wealth management and growth. “Many of my clients have been my old friends for years, witnessing my personal growth as I got married, got promoted, and had children!” Timothy jokingly said, “I don’t think I’m an expert in investment. Still, I believe that only through continuous learning and upskilling can I provide valuable information to my clients. What is more, we should treat everyone sincerely.”
 
Growing up with an ordinary family background, Timothy described that he was fortunate to be able to interact with people from different socioeconomic status. He said that he has no regrets even if his career has come to an end. “I am very grateful for what I have gained along the way, especially my work and family. I’m truly thankful for all the people who provide support and opportunities, allowing me to build my own network and achieve my dream little by little.” For future goals, Timothy hopes to improve his work-life balance and spend more time with his family and health, instead of dedicating all his energy to work. “Apparently my life cycle has changed. You see, I just attended my son’s school experience day yesterday, and this morning I had to go to my daughter’s school for a coffee meeting!” 
 
Advice to the Younger Generations: Stay True to Yourself and Don’t Conform to Society 
Timothy has been actively involved in Lingnan University’s Mentorship Programmes, dedicated to providing guidance and career advice to the young Lingnanians. However, he has noticed that many students lack preparation and often tend to follow the crowd. “Many students said they want to enter certain sector. But when asked about their reasons and expectations, they don’t even understand the basic knowledge of that field!” He reminded students to take initiative. “If you wish to work in a bank, go observe and learn what people are doing in bank, talk to friends who are working in the banking industry, and be more aware of the latest news and trends in the industry.
 
He advises students to be adventurous and stay true to their own ideas while exploring new interests. “For example, I passed the boat license exam last year and recently started playing golf and learning Xuanxue. While these hobbies have provided topics for my work and networking, more importantly, they are activities I truly enjoy doing. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, you won’t excel at it—you can never lie to yourself.” As Timothy indicated, it is common to experience a career confusion at the early stage. Nevertheless, through continuous observation of one’s preferences and traits, self-evaluation and reflection, one can eventually figure out what he or she wants to do. He emphasizes that money should not be the primary consideration, “Just like a Michelin-starred chef managed to gain such award not because he wants to get rich, but because he truly loves cooking!" 
 
Advice to the Younger Generations: Be Genuine, Be Earnest and Build Good Relationships 
Many people asked Timothy about how to prepare for a career in private banking and how to pass interviews at certain banks. He commented that everyone has a different path in life.  Replicating others’ success is not the way. Instead, students should work hard to discover their strengths and unique qualities to carve out their own paths. “For example, when you go to an interview, how do you impress the interviewer who meets dozens of candidates a day?” He explains, “Everyone has ‘label(s)’ that can change over time. For instance, during my days at Lingnan, I was known as an active student who was good at football and participated in many activities. Now, I might be a father who is sporty and talkative. These elements constitute your ‘labels’, making it easier for others to recognize and remember you.”
 
Since everyone is unique, he hopes students can identify their distinctiveness as soon as possible, take advice humbly and treat others sincerely. “Like even though I had no interest in Buddhism back then, I tried to talk to Dr. SIN, which in turn rewarded me with so much Buddhist wisdom.” Timothy points out, “At the end of the day, many things require ‘looking within’. Although it may sound abstract, in fact, people around us are always observing our character and behaviour. When we keep a humble spirit, they always feel it.” Timothy emphasizes, life is full of uncertainties. A small act of kindness today may bring unexpected blessings in the future. “The door of opportunity is always by your side. As long as you do your best, be honest and friendly, the door will always be open for you.”