20 years.
Looking back at the last 20 years has been quite interesting, to say the least. This month marks my 20-year anniversary in the life insurance and financial planning industry. I would have never thought that time would have passed by so quickly…
March 1998. I was a 19-year-old boy that was reluctantly getting into a business that I knew absolutely nothing about. I was coming out of a short-lived stint of being a customs broker and with the encouragement of a friend was introduced to a manager at London Life. After a series of interviews, I decided to embark on the journey of becoming an insurance agent. Little did I know what this meant or what it really would involve. Things started out slow; however, through the years I expanded my practice by building and acquiring clients along the way.
What’s most unique about this career is the people that we meet. Often times we refer to them as our clients; however, more often than not, they become close friends as well. This profession allows us to venture very deep into our clients’ lives. We go deep into their finances, their health, their families, and relationships, as well as their goals and dreams.
Sometimes meetings are very upbeat and encouraging and other times we are dealing with very serious or sad situations. At the end of the day, it is a journey that I absolutely enjoy more than you could imagine.
Personally, during the past 20 years I got married to my best friend Lori and together we have two fantastic children Owen and Olivia. They fill the rest of my time when I am not at work.
We enjoy spending time together camping and biking during the summer months, exploring new areas and taking in the beauty of our country.
New for me has been joining the Rock Harbour team. This has been very exciting and a positive change. It seems that as we get older and gain experience in our career, the need and desire for a change often makes sense. This is where I feel I am now. Tim and I work very well together and have been doing great collaborative work. Tim is a great leader and mentor as well. His focus and perseverance are without a doubt infectious. He has opened many doors for me and we continue to build on our knowledge and expertise daily. I am looking forward to this new venture and am very excited about working with Laura and Kim and being part of a great team.
I am excited for what the future holds and without a doubt see another 20 years in my future as a financial advisor. The industry and products are forever changing but the role of an advisor never changes. I will continue to meet new clients and help them achieve their goals and see them through some challenges too. But, most of all, I will continue making new friends.