Moving to Strategies was a homecoming for many reasons. Getting back into the independent RIA world was so refreshing. We were focused on doing great planning work for our clients and the business was growing very quickly. A flat organization focused solely on bringing value to clients (and having fun at the same time).Because of this, I got to wear many hats and make an impact on the business from many different angles. Whether it was bringing on new technology, mentoring a next-generation advisor, or helping a client to overcome a difficult moment in their life, my thirst to help others was fulfilled.The significant growth of Strategies brought large changes too. Additional owners were brought on board and my role was greatly diminished within the firm. Change happens everywhere every day and adapting is a part of life.My time here helped me realize how much I love working directly with clients and that I had all of the tools that I need to succeed. Fifteen years of experience in many roles with varying perspectives had opened my eyes. I was ready for the next challenge.

My wife was raised in Michigan. She was ready to return to her roots and over the years, I began to understand why she wanted to move back. From years of networking, I had been introduced to the founder of Legacy Trust. On one fateful September day, he told me that they had created a new position at his company by using my resume. He gave me the first shot at this job to which I jumped all over. I brought my family and my planning experience to Legacy Trust to help them build out the planning tools that they offered their clients. My role at Legacy blossomed over the years, moving from a pure planning role into a lead client advisor position.Something had changed in me though. I missed the entrepreneurial spirit of Wealth Dimensions (and RIA’s in general). Banking brings a very different culture and a hierarchy that I never meshed well with. I knew that I needed more out of my career and that I would not be satisfied as an employee of a bank. I wanted and needed more ownership of my future.

By this point, I was a father raising a young family and I had it in my mind that there must be another way in this industry. I saw a job posting at an established RIA firm in Cincinnati that was looking for a Director of Financial Planning. I took this role and loved working alongside the two founders. They taught me so much more about how to work with clients and helped me unlearn some bad habits that I had picked up from the early days. It was here that I really began to see the possibilities of this career because I was able to relate and understand it so much better. I thought that I had always been sitting on the same side of the table as my clients, but I was mistaken. Luckily, these guys showed me the light. My personal development went through the roof over these few years. I learned so much about myself and how I wanted to relate to clients. The actual work became natural to me and I was able to focus much more on making a lasting impact on the clients of the firm.Had it not been for another big change in my life, I would still be at Wealth Dimensions today.

I definitely got exposed to more once I joined LFA. Here, I was lucky enough to train with other planners from across the country in a select group that only served high net worth business owners and executives. The planning techniques and strategies opened my eyes up to so much more. These years were huge for my personal development, but I continued to believe that there was more to financial planning than I was being exposed to. There was a heavy focus on life insurance, which can be a great tool, but not something that every one of my clients needed. I put together financial plans that addressed so many key areas of planning (estate planning, selling a business, preparing for retirement, etc.) but somehow, I continued to feel pressure to sell products. I knew that there was a better way, which resulted in me changing my path....

This where it all started. I learned all of the basics of financial planning. On 100% commission, some months were great, others not so much. It’s funny though because I look back on these years with much appreciation. I worked my tail off and grew a tremendous amount. I learned a lot during these years and some lessons came the hard way. I never gave up though and when a painful lesson presented itself, I took that new knowledge and applied it.For an industry that has a roughly 70% fail rate, I was determined to be a success story.In search of something more and to continue my process of lifelong learning, I knew it was time to move on.Larry Bowling Service Award Recipient (2007) - Client ServiceNew Planner of the Year Award Recipient (2007)