Today’s advisor website showcase highlights our client Garrett Prom, owner and financial advisor at Prominent Financial Planning, LLC. Garrett’s business is based in Dallas, Texas and specializes in guiding young DIYers to financial success.
Why did you become a financial advisor?
My former career was working alongside highly specialized physicians known as electrophysiologists. I assisted with implant procedures in EP labs and operating rooms. These physicians epitomized what it meant to be passionate about their profession and though I enjoyed what I did and was good at it, I wanted to feel the same way about my profession as they did. After much introspection, I knew I wanted to become a financial advisor, but to be the financial advisor I wanted to be, I would have to start my own business.
What drove you to focus on “DIY” financial planning?
I am a do it yourselfer in almost all areas of my life. I was raised with the values of “don’t pay somebody to do something you can do yourself”. There are many people that have similar values and apply them towards their personal finances. The big issue with this is that if they are being truly honest with themselves, they don’t know EXACTLY what they are doing. This is a big problem because their financial future is far too important to be winging it. Many DIYers I’ve talked with are making mistakes and/or overlooking opportunities. I’m not trying to manage their money, I’m just trying to help them make the best decisions and provide them with the best advice.
Why was it important to you to write your website’s content yourself?
I’ve learned rather quickly that my clients are hiring me. They aren’t hiring a firm with many employees, they are hiring me. For that reason, I wanted everything on my website to come from me and be in my own words. It isn’t that I am arrogant. In fact, it took some convincing to put my picture as the first image on my home page. The reality is, I am who my clients hire and the website should reflect that right down to the content.
How does your promotional video relate to your message?
The video features my son and daughter attempting grocery shopping on their own. They’ve been to the store before, have a basic knowledge of what to do, and they do their best to finish the task at hand. As you can imagine, it is quite funny seeing two little kids try to navigate this task and make funny blunders along the way. The analogy that I make is to DIYers managing their finances. Many know to make contributions for retirement and are doing their best. The problem is they are making mistakes or overlooking opportunities along the way because like my kids, they don’t know EXACTLY what they are doing.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to Generation X and Y clients about financial planning?
You need to start now! You need to know what you are doing and more importantly why you are doing it. Your financial future is too important to be winging it and leaving it to chance.
Are there any questions that you seem to be asked over and over again in your “Ask Garrett” blog?
The questions I consistently get are actually the ones that I don’t answer. It is usually younger people wanting to know what the next hot stock or the next hot sector is going to be. I can’t fault them because I was the same way. That is where education comes in. Instead of publishing the question, I usually send a personal reply encouraging them to look at their financial future in more of a holistic approach.
Why did you choose to work with Twenty Over Ten?
This is the third revision of my website, and I learned a great deal working with others before choosing Twenty Over Ten.
I think Twenty Over Ten provides a great balance of having support available should I need it and also gives me the ability to change content without having to involve anyone else. They also understand the industry and the compliance piece is fantastic.
How did you decide on your website’s theme?
Twenty Over Ten was quite helpful with this part. I am the first to admit, I am too analytical to even care about aesthetics. The problem is aesthetics is very important to many people. That is why I deferred most of the site layout to Twenty Over Ten and am very happy I did.
What was the most surprising thing you discovered since becoming a financial advisor?
I am amazed at the close knit community that exists between fee-only financial advisors. With similar business models, it would be easier to see each other as competition but that simply isn’t the case. I am proud to be a member of National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and think the world of other members. Through study groups, online forums, and conferences, fee-only financial advisors don’t just want to improve the lives of their clients but also want to improve the profession by helping each other.
WANT MORE?
See our previous Advisor Website Showcases, including a former Professional NFL athlete turned financial advisor and a financial planning firm focused on helping Doctors
Or, learn how we work with financial advisors to design tailored websites or contact us to discuss your own marketing needs.