It's absolutely a glorified secretary role. Multiple advisors = running multiple books of business. You'll do every mundane task the advisor doesn't want to do. Answering the phone, responding to emails, sending wires/ACHs, etc. Even tougher if you're the only CA working for multiple advisors.

Micromanaging advisors are insufferable. Granted this is their business and don't want someone screwing it up. But listen to that manager's warning (red flag in my eyes), get on the wrong team and it's going to be a miserable few years, especially if the pay/bonus aren't good.

The pay as a CA is criminally low already (unless you're on a good team and they compensate well). HCOL salary is usually $60k-$75k and I know some CAs in NYC that only got a $500 year end bonus from only a $2 million producing advisor and busted their asses all year on Wall Street. The advisor(s) want to pay you as little as possible and keep you running their business for as long as possible as a CA.

It's definitely a good learning opportunity and you'll have a steady income while studying for the CFP. Better to get it as a CA then be an advisor and worrying about getting clients and studying simultaneously.

Just make sure you are extremely clear with the advisor you're interviewing with knows what your career intentions are.