PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress.
Hastie: My role at our firm is multifaceted—I am a partner in the firm and, alongside my partner, develop the firm’s investment strategies for our wealth management clients. I am also intimately involved in serving our retirement plan clients (401(k)s and 403(b)s) as a 3(38) investment manager. I assist plan sponsors by designing and managing their retirement plan. As an offshoot of our wealth management business, I assist in building risk-based models for our retirement plan clients.
Outside of serving our clients, I assist my partner in the day-to-day operation of the firm. I am also involved in our marketing strategies and sponsorships of local charities, organizations and fundraisers. We sponsor several local golf tournaments, which gives us an opportunity to network and socialize with existing clients to strengthen and deepen our relationships. I also use these opportunities to speak with prospective clients in the community and discuss our firm’s services and how we might be able to assist them—wealth management, financial and retirement income planning, as well as designing and managing retirement plans. Additionally, I am involved in a local young professionals group that raises money for local charities and organizations.
PLANADVISER: What motivates you to stay in the retirement/advisory industry?
Hastie: There are two main factors that motivate me to stay in the retirement/advisory industry—helping others with their financial lives and growing our firm’s client base and reach. The notion of helping others stems from my previous occupation as a doctor of physical therapy. I enjoy helping others and using my knowledge to assist them in improving and maximizing their potential. Where I did so previously from a physical standpoint, I am now able to serve others in helping them define and shape their financial lives, regardless of their stage in life.
I very much enjoy being a client-facing adviser and utilizing my interpersonal and social skills to connect with people on levels deeper than their portfolio or their 401(k). Gaining a client’s trust is paramount to being able to serve them and assist them in attaining their financial and retirement goals. I firmly believe trust, integrity, work ethic and accountability create an environment of trust and respect from clients that allows me to serve them in the best way possible. My motivation to stay in the retirement/advisory industry is the feeling of joy that helping others and assisting them in living their dreams brings.
PLANADVISER: What have you done that you are most proud of at work? Personally?
Hastie: Professionally, I am most proud of obtaining the CFP certification. Coming from another industry, as a doctor of physical therapy, I had to hit the ground running and learned a massive amount of information in a relatively short time. The two and a half years I spent studying for the CFP certification was in no way a simple task, but it broadened my horizons with respect to this industry and the various avenues available. In my first 3.5 years in the industry, I obtained the CFP, AIF and CPFA designations. My work ethic and determination allowed me to stay focused and successfully study for and pass each exam.
Personally, I am most proud of becoming a dad. I have accomplished many great things academically and athletically in my life, but nothing comes close to the feelings of becoming a dad. The instant I saw each of my girls (a baby boy is currently on the way), I experienced a flood of feelings and emotions never before felt. Along with my amazing wife, I am responsible for their health, safety and ensuring they grow into amazing, successful, kind, loving, hardworking adults. I am beyond blessed and thankful for the role of dad.