12/15/2022
"10 years ago today I had breakfast with Brent Hoppe to discuss our careers as financial advisors and dream about the future. During that chat Brent proposed that it was a perfect time in our lives to take our experience and knowledge to the next level by starting our own advisory firm. My reaction? No. I love the craft of financial planning, but I don't want to spend my days "designing business cards;" I want to spend my days advising clients. What I failed to remember at the time, but I'm reminded of today looking back, was something a mentor of mine had shared about the stages of life, which she had learned from her mentor decades earlier. First, we are apprentices, who are learning our craft. Next we start perfecting our craft, and become experts in our field. After becoming experts, we then take that expertise and mentor others who are just starting their journey. And finally, in the last stage, we create an environment where apprentices can grow, journeymen become experts, and experts mentor apprentices. Little did I realize, when initially reacting with disdain at Brent's suggestion, that becoming an expert would never be enough. We would only be fulfilled in our journey if we reached that last stage. I'm humbled to be there now."
- Gregory Gassert
