We all come into our careers in different ways. Some of us have a clear vision of what we want to do and check the boxes to make it happen. Others stumble into their careers by chance or through an unexpected opportunity. My story falls somewhere in the middle.
Starting My Career
While in college, I studied finance at the University of Missouri simply because I was interested in it and wanted to better understand how the economy worked. Since I’m a hands-on learner, I decided to put some skin in the game to help me stay focused by investing my earnings from my summer job as an ironworker. The investment turned out to be a winner and even helped me return to school years after earning my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I attended graduate school full-time at Washington University’s Olin Business School and earned my MBA in finance.
This is when I found myself at a turning point and had some decisions to make about which direction my career would go. After working on financial transactions for large corporations, I decided to focus on financial planning so I could apply my skill and knowledge to meet the financial needs of individuals, families, and small business owners. I obtained my Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation and founded West End Advisory Group.
Branching Out
Over the decades I’ve been at this job, I’ve found that developing a financial plan is a bit like working on a crossword puzzle or a math problem. By carefully collecting people’s information and building financial models, we not only build strong, long-lasting relationships with our clients, but we can also help them identify the best decisions and strategies for their situation.
Now, after being in the industry for over 35 years, I spend my days guiding my clients through the many aspects of the financial planning process, including integrating employee benefits into our comprehensive plans, and specializing in investment management, retirement planning, and handling rollovers from retirement plans.
The Best Part
Hands down, my favorite part of what I do is when, while working through my clients’ plan, I see the light go on as they begin to see the possibilities and get excited about their future. It’s a privilege to be a part of that process. I love educating my clients, drilling down complex investment principles into understandable concepts so that they can feel empowered to make informed decisions. I come to work every day to make a difference and continually add value to my clients’ lives.
Your Turn!
Now that you know a bit about me and the heart behind what we do at West End Advisory Group, we’d love to hear your story and show how we can help you work toward the future you dream about. Set up an introductory meeting by contacting me at 314-880-7560 or Joe.Roddy@LPL.com.