The Overly Competent Junior Employee

“Ha ha ha, I only asked for the principal to be recovered, but how much is this?”

The next day, at Yuseong Group headquarters.

Only the sound of hearty laughter echoed through the Chairman’s office.

The Chairman’s deposit account, which he was now checking, showed a balance of 71.847 billion won.

“This was achieved in just three months?”

“We were fortunate. Looking at the results, it’s as if Gyeongseong Group helped us.”

“Reading the report, it’s quite intriguing.”

The Chairman said this as he continued reading through the report.

It was written so simply that he could imagine how such profits were generated just by reading it.

“It’s been a while since I received a report that makes me feel as if I had traded the stocks myself that day. Did you do the trading yourself?”

“No, an employee under my command did it. You don’t need to worry about your story leaking out. That fellow doesn’t seem to think it’s you, Chairman.”

“Isn’t he just… pretending not to know?”

The Chairman asked, puzzled.

“How could he not know when my name is clearly written on the account? And if he has the ability to grow money like this in three months, he should be sharp enough to figure it out.”

At the Chairman’s question, Sim Ju-won smiled slightly. The Chairman’s doubt was reasonable. Except for one thing…

“For a securities firm employee, a client’s occupation isn’t that important.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m saying that apart from what the client wants and their investment tendencies, nothing else is a consideration.”

At Sim Ju-won’s words, the Chairman began listening with interest.

“Of course, personally, one might be curious. What kind of job would someone with this much money have?”

“……”

“But that’s as far as it goes. What’s important to us isn’t the client’s job or personal information, but growing the client’s money. Even if that fellow figured it out, he pretends not to know, no, he doesn’t know. I’ve reformed the culture that way.”

At those words, the Chairman nodded slowly.

“Good. I’ll believe you because you, Vice President Sim, don’t speak nonsense.”

The Chairman seemed to have developed trust in Sim Ju-won through this incident.

“How long has it been since I properly supported the securities firm?”

“It’s been about 5 years, I think.”

“In those 5 years, the reports I’ve received about the securities firm were always about what kind of trouble they caused this time. Last time…”

Sim Ju-won kept his mouth shut at the Chairman’s words. The Chairman’s words were true.

Over the past few years, the securities firm had achieved significant growth but also caused many incidents. In the industry, it was even called beyond redemption.

“Every time a report about the securities firm came up, I hoped it wasn’t about another incident. And from three years ago, reports about the securities firm started to change.”

“……”

“Instead of incidents, it was about rapid sales growth. The market share of front-line branches had already surpassed Taesan. So this time, I asked to look into it. It was you.”

The Chairman looked intently at Sim Ju-won.

“Three years ago, when you became Vice President, you reformed the culture, right? And now that’s showing results.”

“That’s correct.”

It might have seemed arrogant, but Sim Ju-won could be confident.

Over the past three years, the WM Division had made significant progress in personal asset management, and he thought no one could deny that it was due to his efforts.

“With the Chairman’s full support, I thought the timing was right. Without that support, there would have been no cultural reform.”

“Hahaha, you even know how to gild my face. I don’t feel bad about it. You’re different from those who only speak prettily without results.”

The Chairman nodded and looked at Sim Ju-won.

“Well, if I sell shares along with the money you’ve earned…”

“I’ve prepared a report related to that aspect as well.”

As the Chairman brought up the topic of inheritance tax, Sim Ju-won handed over a prepared report, and the Chairman received it with a look of surprise.

“Take out a loan.”

“A loan?”

“Yes. If we combine the 50 billion won you currently have with the amount you entrusted to us this time, it’s about 120 billion won.”

“So you’re saying to solve the remaining 80 billion won with a loan?”

“Isn’t there a reason you didn’t consider selling shares from the beginning, Chairman?”

“……”

The Chairman’s words were stopped short at Sim Ju-won’s question.

“We can tell from the shareholding alone that the reorganization isn’t complete yet.”

“You securities folks are scary, always analyzing shareholding relationships.”

In fact, the reason the Chairman didn’t sell shares from the beginning and invested in stocks following Seo Gihwan of Gwangjin Group’s advice was that the perfect succession wasn’t complete.

His brothers could still form a united front at any time to threaten his position as Chairman.

The value of the shares the Chairman currently held was more expensive than the price set by the market.

“I’ve thought about loans too. But with existing loans to pay inheritance tax, and monthly interest payments exceeding my annual salary…”

“I think you could expand dividends.”

“What?”

“Chairman, many companies are already starting to return value to shareholders through dividend expansion. Yuseong has already completed its division separation, with investments being made by each affiliate.”

Sim Ju-won began to speak while looking at the Chairman.

“Yuseong Group headquarters is just accumulating sales every year without spending. In fact, there’s nowhere to spend it.”

“That’s true…”

“Expand the holding company’s dividends. Then you’ll be able to offset the interest you have to pay. Furthermore, it’s a clear justification, and shareholders will support this choice.”

The Chairman nodded with interest.

“I’ll consider this part too. I’ll submit the report to the board of directors.”

At the Chairman’s words, Sim Ju-won bowed his head in gratitude.

“That’s enough about my problem, now tell me what you want.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m a businessman. I’ve learned and felt deeply that capable employees must be rewarded. Bluntly put, if they move to a competitor due to poor compensation, isn’t that my loss?”

Sim Ju-won pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Please cancel the personnel transfer. I still have work to do in the WM Division…”

“That’s a given. Tell me about the reward.”

“…I’ll accept whatever you give. I’ve always been proud to be a Yuseong man for life. However.”

“However?”

“I’d like to give a reward to the person who directly managed your account this time. As you said, Chairman, I’m afraid other companies might target him because he’s too capable.”

“Is he that outstanding?”

“Yes, I’ll report again if there’s an opportunity later, but… I think he’s someone we need to keep an eye on and manage within the company.”

As Sim Ju-won spoke with certainty, the Chairman nodded.

After all, the Chairman himself had confirmed the ability of this person who had grown his assets so much in a short time.

“Is it beyond your authority?”

“I plan to give a reward within my authority.”

“If it’s within your authority, do so. He’s your employee. I’ll think about your reward.”

“Thank you.”

Sim Ju-won bowed his head in gratitude to the Chairman, who smiled with satisfaction.

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“So you’re saying they declared voluntary delisting right at that point?”

“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”

A week later, at Yuseong Investment Securities’ Seongnam Branch.

Dokyung was walking down the corridor towards the conference room with Choi Woojin.

“So the clients must have made a lot of profit.”

“Yes. The one who made the most saw a 90% return.”

“Don’t tell me it was that Chairman?”

Choi Woojin asked, surprised.

“You know, Dokyung-ssi’s first client.”

“Yes, it was him. He was the first to consult with me and buy Gaon Medical stock.”

“Well, I don’t even know how to express my admiration.”

Dokyung chuckled at Choi Woojin’s words.

The elderly man who supported Dokyung’s opinions and gave his full backing had made a substantial profit from this incident.

Since becoming Dokyung’s first client when he became a PB two years ago, the elderly man had succeeded in growing his assets considerably.

In the stock market where others consider a 20% annual return successful, his assets were nearly doubling every year…

“That Chairman must adore you, Dokyung-ssi.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, if someone doubled the money I brought every year, I’d be head over heels. If I were that Chairman, I’d even create a non-existent granddaughter to set you two up.”

Dokyung’s face was beaming with laughter at Choi Woojin’s jest.

“I acknowledge that you pick good stocks, Dokyung-ssi. That’s shown by your performance.”

By now, they had entered the conference room and started preparing for the meeting.

“But how s it that only the stocks you pick are followed by such luck?”

At Choi Woojin’s words, Dokyung, who had been preparing for the meeting, stopped and looked at Choi Woojin with a serious expression.

“Assistant Manager Woojin.”

As Dokyung called him with an expression that suggested he had something to say, Choi Woojin opened his mouth with a puzzled look.

“What? Did I say something to offend you…”

“No, it’s not that. I feel like I should tell you something.”

Dokyung continued speaking while looking at Choi Woojin quietly.

“Actually, the reason luck follows the stocks I pick is…”

Choi Woojin swallowed hard and focused on Dokyung’s words.

“It seems like luck that started after studying with you, Assistant Manager Woojin.”

“What?”

“Strangely, ever since I became close with you, luck has…”

“Okay! I’ll stop.”

Choi Woojin grumbled as if deflated, and Dokyung chuckled at the sight.

In a way, it wasn’t wrong. The message had chosen him, and Choi Woojin had played a big role in the process of verifying the message’s authenticity.

“I sincerely think that way.”

“Well, thanks for saying so.”

The two finished preparing for the meeting while chatting about various things, and shortly after, the meeting, which was the start of the schedule, began.

Everyone discussed their approach to the market this week, and after Ryu Tae-hwa’s instructions were relayed, everyone seemed to relax as the meeting neared its end.

“The meeting isn’t over yet.”

As Ryu Tae-hwa said this, noticing the wavering concentration, everyone focused and looked at him.

“There’s something I need to tell you before the meeting ends.”

Ryu Tae-hwa continued speaking, looking at each employee in turn.

“The WM Division has announced that they’re expanding the Leaders Center in Gangnam.”

“Expanding?”

“Yes. Previously, a small number of outstanding PBs managed each client, but recently, the number of clients managed by the Leaders Center has increased.”

With the market being difficult, even those who used to invest directly in stocks were seeking professional services.

Especially among the wealthy managed by the Leaders branch, many thought it was more beneficial to get help from experts rather than spending their own time on stocks.

“They say they’re expanding not just the PB team, but overall staff numbers.”

The headquarters seemed serious about personal asset management services.

Along with aggressive product development, they were putting effort into attracting high-net-worth individuals.

“It seems there’s an employee from our branch who has received a transfer order to the Leaders branch. The personnel transfer order has arrived.”

At Ryu Tae-hwa’s words, everyone looked at each other in surprise.

But it seemed no one had been notified.

“Yoon Dokyung-ssi.”

As Ryu Tae-hwa called Dokyung’s name, everyone’s gaze turned to him.

“Come and receive your personnel transfer order.”

As the reason for calling his name flowed from Ryu Tae-hwa’s lips, Dokyung’s eyes widened as he stared at the document in Ryu Tae-hwa’s hand.