Consider a Career in Financial Planning Part 1

Consider a Career in Financial Planning Part 2

Dominique J. Henderson Sr. CFP® has been in the financial services industry since 1998. Ever since he attended elementary school, he was passionate about helping people “win with their money.” With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, he has built a diverse skill set in strategy, data analysis, investment research, portfolio management, financial planning, and business coaching. Finally, Henderson Sr. launched  The Jumpstart Coaching Lab to educate and coach the next generation of financial professionals to serve the growing group of individuals seeking financial advice.

Dominique J. Henderson Sr. comes from a family that has a military background. Also, he grew up not having many friends because he was often moving, and most friendships weren’t as long. Due to his upbringing, he gained a broader perspective in working with clients because he met new people every few years.

He wants to be remembered as a thinker that Henderson Sr. created the acronym R.E.A.L. which stands for relatable, empathetic, attentive, and listening. After leaving his former firm to start his practice, he thought about “how to move the needle.” Also, “what mindset do I need to bring when having meetings with clients?”

The launch of The Jumpstart Coaching Lab began when he noticed that many advisors were not doing videos to help advisors learn more about financial planning. He wanted to create something different and an impact for everyone interested in the career of financial planning. During the coaching sessions, Henderson Sr. noticed that individuals would fall into one of the three categories. He mentioned that “individuals would fall into the following categories; find out more about the career and existing financial professionals but are unhappy with their position.” Some of the issues that arose in the coaching lab are “obtain CFP or not, career changers deciding to pursue the career, and when it is the right time to leave and start their firm.”

Henderson Sr. describes several methods to attract the right clients by having a system in place. He begins by asking, “what does everyone have in common.” He mentions that “everyone has an ethos, where they have specific goals that they want to accomplish.” The specific people he caters to are people who value time over money because he believes that money can always be replaceable, but time is irreplaceable. Furthermore, he wants to help clients that want “to create an impact and seek a particular perspective.” For clients that do not have much time to look over which investments to purchase for retirement, Henderson Sr. mentions that he offers solutions that save clients time. Also, he recommends actively listening to what clients have to say and utilizing the skills you have to assist them with their needs.

Henderson Sr. discusses some of the most effective ways to get your message across to clients. For example, he mentions that active listening and utilizing your skills are the first steps to getting your message across. Using social media to your advantage when setting your message is important because many clients listen to what you have to say. Furthermore, he explains that clients come to him for advice because of the videos and content online. “Mastering the skill of video is a worthwhile investment because most clients today are meeting online and tend to trust you more when they view your content.” Also, having content online gives the client a perspective and allows them to know you before the call.

Before students can begin their journey in financial planning, Henderson explains some ways the next generation of financial professionals can prepare in the financial services industry. Financial planners need to understand that clients want you to manage their money. Also, he mentions that “you do not have to be a financial planner from start to finish, and you can start as a financial coach for several years and then a financial practitioner.” There are many options today for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the financial services industry.

The final piece of advice Henderson Sr. offers to students pursuing a career in financial planning is to “find your why which will lead you to your who. Which inevitably leads you to your how.”