I am old now.

A quick reflection on my career.

As I reflect on when I began my career, it feels like it was a decade ago. The amount of knowledge and experience I have gained over the past 4 years is incredible. Of course, being in an environment where I am trusted and given the opportunity to be creative and autonomous in many different aspects has allowed me to flourish. Shoutout to my boss.

I won’t lie, having always been interested in markets and money, that was one of my main focuses throughout my first few years of work. Making, saving, and investing.

But when I really look back, there are a few pivotal experiences (outside of being offered my job) that really boosted my trajectory. Spoiler alert: They don’t really have to do with money, bonuses, or production. However, each of them has impacted my ability to grow in my career, thus indirectly influencing my ability to earn and produce!

Future Proof 2023: Future Proof really is the Coachella of business conferences. Cocktails, concerts, blimps, beaches, and TONS of financial professionals.

I met one of my mentors here. I speak with him at least once a quarter. Learning from his previous experiences and words of wisdom as I navigate a similar terrain as he did a few years ago.

It is refreshing. Someone who has been there before. Someone who knows exactly what it feels like to be stuck in a rut and someone who knows exactly how it feels to feel like you’re finally breaking through.

I met a lot of people that I stay in touch with at this conference out in California, but my mentor stands out. I hope to watch our relationship continue to grow throughout my career.

CFP® Exam Review: The CFP® Exam is by far the best thing I have ever done for myself career-wise. It was a wealth of knowledge that was immediately applicable in my day to day.

I remember the long nights and early mornings as I reviewed for the exam. All along, even when it got tough, I knew this program would make me one of the best and most well-rounded advisors in the country.

Not to mention one of the youngest. It is pretty cool to know that I am one of roughly 6,600 CFP®s between the ages of 20-29. With roughly 96,000 other CFP® Professionals older than me, it is a pretty cool feeling to be one of the youngest to do it.

Enrolling in my MBA: I chose to enroll for my MBA around this time last year. I work from home and knew I needed to push myself into my uncomfort zone to make some more connections. I began in August and it has been a great experience thus far. The workload has been manageable and the program seems to put a heavy emphasis on making connections with classmates. Given this was the main driver in my choice, it has worked out very well and I have even made a few friends.

I guess the moral of the story here is that not everything revolves around money. There are so many ways to invest in yourself. I can honestly tell you that each of these three things has had a much more fulfilling impact on me than any bonus ever has.

They have also driven me to work harder, meet new people, and break out of my comfort zone. I wholeheartedly believe that each of these things will propel my career.

It is hard to put an ROI on professional experiences, designations, and higher education. I am not sure there is an exact calculation for it. But what I do know is that every time I push the envelope, it has come back to pay dividends.