Financial advisor takes a big step out on his own

• Photo: Jeff Myers

Jeff Myers opened the doors of his Ameriprise Financial office Jan. 13. The office is located at 115 Elm St., Suite J. For more information call 651-460-2040.

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Things are still a little unsettled in Jeff Myers’ new office. One room in the three-room suite is filled mostly with boxes and papers, there’s nobody there to work the front desk and as of last week Myers was still working through the technical details of making his entire operation paperless.

All the change has meant some long hours, but Myers has found he doesn’t mind the busy days as much as he once did. That’s the effect owning your own business can have.

For most of the past six years, Myers operated an Edward Jones office in Farmington. On Jan. 13, he left that office behind to buy his own Ameriprise Financial franchise.

The work is much the same. Myers will still work as a financial advisor. But now he’s doing it on his own terms.

Myers, who grew up watching his father operate four barber shops, said being his own boss is both the realization of a lifelong dream and an opportunity to take control of his future.

“I wanted something, if my children wanted to follow me into the business, I can hand the book over to them,” Myers said. “If I retire, I can find the financial advisor I want to take on the business.”

Myers considered making the move several months ago, but the timing wasn’t quite right.

He’s been working 12 to 17 hours a day since he opened his doors, and he figures he has another month or two of those kinds of hours before he’ll feel comfortable things are on solid ground. He doesn’t plan to hire a receptionist until he feels like he has a firm grasp on how his new office will run.

Myers got into financial advising shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. He was working as a manufacturing rep then, and his industry collapsed in the wake of the terrorist attacks. He had to take a step back and figure out what he was going to do with his life. An aptitude for numbers and an interest in investing led him to his new career.

“My favorite thing to do is help people,” he said. “I think it was just the right career.”

Myers has enjoyed his job. He likes helping people plan for their future, or figure out how they can buy the cabin they’ve always wanted. He likes to build relationships with his clients. Myers has attended clients’ birthday parties and weddings. He’s had clients crying in his office for reasons that had nothing to do with the work Myers was doing for them.

Those kinds of relationships have helped as he made the change to his new office. Myers’ deal with Edward Jones doesn’t allow him to pursue his former clients, but several have sought him out.

“I’ve had a lot of people say it doesn’t matter where I go. They’re a Jeff Myers client,” Myers said.

That’s a good thing to hear when you’re trying to get a new business up and running.

Tags: business, farmington, news