Feb 25 2009
I Sold My Business Today
Today I sold my securities business to Ameriprise Financial. I also had a talk tonight with the Raleigh Industrial Engineering Society.
It was an interesting day.
I have been working as a financial planner for almost 22 years. I started out because I was unemployed. I was laid off from a job as an office manager for Patsy Aiken Designs. Patsy’s husband Joel ran the office and had designed his own accounting program in Microsoft Access.
I had some experience with Access and felt that I could master his “simple” program. I was there 60 days and I don’t think I got one weeks payroll right the whole time. The Aiken’s laid me and two other people, they had hired at the same time as me, off due to limited resources. In other words, they couldn’t afford us and we did not produce any revenue. . . . . .
But I digress!
I got started in this industry by going to a job fair. I don’t remember where it was, but I met some people with a company called Waddell and Reed Financial Services. I remember meeting Steve Stringberg. He was the district manager of the Raleigh office. It was a day that changed my life.
I remember coming home and declaring to my then wife, Karin, that I got a job that day. She said “great, how much are they going to pay you?” I said “nothing, it’s straight commission!”
You could probably fill in the ending to that story.
But I persisted and somehow I managed to make a living at it.
Along the way I met some wonderful people. Some of them I did business with and feel that I honestly helped. Others were great moments to get to know another life traveler and share a little bit of myself.
I just love helping people. I get joy out of doing little things that say “I love you.” Making that physical and psychic connection, even if it is just for a moment, can make a great day out of an OK day.
The many people that I met in seminars, at trade shows and through referrals will always be important to me. They were the basis of my life during this last quarter century.
I don’t mean to sound too “New Age” but I see life as an adventure, something to be enjoyed. I see myself as someone who likes people and likes life and I want people to like me.
The hardest thing for me to get to, in order to make this sale, was the idea that I was letting my clients down. Somehow I was falling short on a promise that I made to some of them, that I would never leave them.
In order to feel that I had done my best I had to find a suitable home for them, and I know that I have with the two planners I found at Ameriprise Financial, David and Adam.
I know that they will be in good hands and that I have done my duty so I can free myself from my own obligation.
I hope, if you are one of those people, that you will give David and Adam an opportunity to share their knowledge with you.
I also shared some of my knowledge tonight with the Raleigh Chapter of the International Industrial Engineering Society.
It is always fun to share my knowledge with people. I did this for my friend Becky Krier. She reminded me, tonight, that we had met at Martin Brossman’s Artists, Healers and Teachers party a few years ago.
They had a small group but there were some good questions and they added some good thoughts along the way. It was an appropriate way to end a day filled with more deep emotion than I have felt in a long time.
So now is a new beginning. I am freeing myself so that I can move forward to what is next.
Some of you know that I am looking at becoming a teacher. This is something I should have been doing my whole adult life. I was on that path at one time in my life, but then, it didn’t feel right.
I am signed up for the NC teach program and am looking at Middle School Social Studies right now.
I am apprehensive but whenever I mention it to anyone they all say “oh, you would be great at that” so I guess I am on the right path.
If you can help me progress in this endeavor in any way, or you just want to share an idea with me, I would love to hear from you. I am truly on a new adventure and will welcome every fellow traveler along the way.
Marc
Marc:
Congratulations! You will be a good teacher and the student thing should not pose a problem for you either. You can always sell Prepaid Legal while studying to keep yourself financed. I hope we will still see you at Chapel Hill Leads.
Hi Marc,
Congratulations on selling your business and pursuing your passion for teaching.
I would love to have you as a mentor; I have been working for the government a long time, and am seeking ways I can quit the proverbial Rat Race and pursue my passion as a creative artist.
I wish you continued success and hope you can stay in touch, as time permits. The Best of Happinesss, Health and Success to you!
Interesting.
I used to be a teacher in Brazil: from 5th grade, through high school, up to an university.
I enjoyed while it lasted.
I wish you a tremendous success in your new adventure.
Congratulations, Teaching is an awesome field. I took and passed the middle school social studies exam for teachers and I will be happy to share my experience with you.
Abundance is abundance, everywhere you find it. I hope the kids are ready for the “Abundance Man” disguise
(that was your charachter’s name right?)
Good luck Marc and keep me in the loop! You da man!
Marc, you will do well. Please stay in touch. You are one of my best friends—-I have always been priviledged to partner with you.
Let me know if I can ever do anything to help.
Regards to Sandy.
Bob
You will be awesome!!! My mother and grandmother were teachers. It takes the energy you have always shown me to get young minds engaged in learning and be great people. That Abundance Man outfit will come in handy for sure!!!
I hope you continue your newsletters…. they always remind me to see the glass half full in this seemingly half empty world.
Keep in touch and God Bless You!
Cindy
Marc,
Congratulations!! Transistions in life are always a challenge and you always muster the courage it takes.
Its exciting to see that you and others are benefiting from your love of helping people.
Marc,
Good for you….moving on to follow your dreams. That is what life is really about….I am so glad found a buyer and now you are free to see, “what is next?” I am teaching at Duke…have been here for three years and absolutely love it. About to finish my doctorate. You can re-invent your life at any juncture.
Congradulations! Give my best to Sandy.
Hugs,
Helen
Marc, Congradulations on selling your business and you would be a great teacher.
Photoman
Congratulations. You will be in the business of changing young lives. I’ve been a volunteer math tutor for about 7 years and have seen many children blossom as they learn new skills, learn to believe in themselves, and respond to someone who truly cares about their success. Selling your business frees you to follow your heart. All the best on your new journey.
Marc,
Thank you so much for letting me know what you are “up to”. I always loved getting the e-mails you’ve sent over the years. I invite you to keep in touch.
You will be an awesome teacher!!! (I’m considering it myself).
In these unsettling times, I’m glad to know you are on the side of our youngsters!
Wishing you much love, happiness and unbridled success!
Much love,
Catherine Oxford
Marc,
The very best to you in your endeavors. I think it is awesome that you are following your dreams. Now you go from helping folks with finances to helping kids become the best they can be. You are an awesome teacher and I am sure you will do well. You should take the time to write a book as you are a great writer. I hope you will continue your newsletters to keep us updated on how things are going with you.
Warmest regards to you and Sandy. May all your dreams come true.
Blessings,
Becky Brady
Nashville, TN
Congratulations, Marc! I’m a big believer that it’s never too late to start or learn something new. Best wishes for much success in making your newest dream a reality!
Marc,
It sounds like your journey is well under way…to go through not knowing and find out what is on the other side. And then to be willing to go through not knowing again…that is what it is to be truly alive!!
Your friend and fan,
Brenda
“It may be that
when we no longer
know what to do,
we have come
to our real work.
And when we not longer
Know which way to go,
We have begun our real journey.”
By Wendell Berry, author, farmer, poet.