One Year In
Celebrating One Year in Business
Exactly one year ago today, I became self-employed and launched my own financial planning firm. At the time, I knew the decision would change my professional life - but I couldn’t have predicted just how much it would shape me personally as well.
Starting a business is equal parts exhilarating and overwhelming. There’s the thrill of creating something from the ground up, paired with the weight of knowing that every decision – big or small – falls on your shoulders. It means wearing many hats simultaneously: trusted advisor, administrator, compliance officer, and in the early stages, even IT support. It’s been one big lesson in adaptability and perseverance.
A college classmate of mine, who had experienced great success starting his own financial planning firm, gave me some hard truths at the beginning. He said something along the lines of, “the first year sucks, the second year sucks less, and by the third year, everything will fall into place.” It wasn’t the client acquisition, business development, or actual financial planning work that was the most challenging, it was all the other responsibilities of being a business owner. Something no one could learn until they did it. I’m happy to say, the first year is behind me.
I found immense satisfaction in the freedom to design a practice that reflects my values and the way I believe financial planning should be done. I’ve done important and life-changing work. I’ve grown the business simply from personal and professional referrals, helped business owners create a succession plan and exit strategies, comforted parents while undertaking special needs planning after a recent medical diagnosis, facilitated the navigation of large financial windfalls, planned for retirements, and painfully walked with clients going through a divorce. And for all of us most interested in the bottom line: I’ve saved clients money, reduced tax burdens, and helped families secure a life of financial freedom. I am proud and grateful.
One of the highlights over the past year was the ability to spend the summer working from Kennebunk, Maine and my hometown in Pennsylvania. I often joke this is one of the major reasons my husband encouraged me to start my own firm – he figured if I could “work from anywhere,” he could finally get me out of the office long enough to enjoy the view! Between the beautiful coastlines of Maine and the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, I’ve been able to combine work with a little adventure - a reminder that running your own firm can offer freedom in unexpected ways. It meant we were sometimes up late working once our children went to sleep, but it also meant we could spend some mornings berry picking and building sandcastles with them. My greatest accomplishment may have been surviving an 11-hour road trip with a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old. Most importantly, I was able to confirm something I’ve always believed: you don’t have to sacrifice your health, values, or memories with your family to be a successful business owner.
Financial planning isn’t just about investments or spreadsheets – it’s about helping people feel more at ease in their daily lives, confident in their decisions, and prepared for the future. This first year has been humbling, energizing, and deeply fulfilling. To my clients, colleagues, friends, and family who have supported me – thank you. I’m proud of what we’ve built so far, and I look forward to the years ahead.
