Why I Became A Financial Advisor

Published by Daniel Morrison

When I look at numbers on an Excel spreadsheet, I see a fascinating puzzle that tells the story of someone’s financial life, goals, and the market trends that impact them. I have always had a penchant for digging beyond the data and putting the puzzle pieces together to create a strong and secure financial picture. There was never really a question of what career field I would one day enter.

First Steps

I grew up with a father who worked two jobs and a mother who devoted herself to raising four children. Their examples taught me the importance of hard work balanced with faith and family. Those essential core values, combined with my passion for finances, led me to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Towson University and a master’s degree in finance from the University of Baltimore. With my education in hand, I started my career in the banking industry, first as a branch manager and then as a financial representative for Maryland Agency Financial Group (MAFG), a top financial services and insurance firm. I eventually became a partner in this firm and obtained several credentials to help me better serve my clients, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL).

My Career Today

While at MAFG, I met Mark Ring. Together, we realized we had a desire to approach financial services with the attitude of “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” In 2006, we founded Jacob William Advisory to empower clients to pursue their financial objectives in a way that is grounded on the principles of proactive communication, education, disciplined processes, and service that exceeds their expectations.

I co-founded Jacob William Advisory as a response to serious market changes. In this digital age, the stock market changes at a rapid rate and immediacy now defines our financial reality. What once took a week to unfold can now occur over a weekend. This new financial landscape calls for a modern philosophy of money management. My strategy doesn’t hold to the old maxim that stocks will rise, fall, and eventually even out. Instead, I stay nimble and prepared to move in and out of trends in an attempt to increase upside capture and decrease downside risk. As a result, my clients can have financial confidence in the present, not just the promise of “eventually.”

Obstacles And Victories

While I love my role as a financial advisor, there are definitely challenges that come with the job. It can be difficult to find new clients that share our mission and want to commit to the trusted, long-term relationship we offer. But my love for this career outweighs any obstacles that may come my way. There’s nothing more fulfilling and inspiring than seeing the immediate impact I can have on someone’s situation.

I am motivated to work hard every day to share what I believe is the secret to financial success. We live in an instant-gratification culture with a focus on obtaining material goods, which makes commitment to long-term financial planning difficult. Therefore, my driving desire in my career is to help others manage their money, succeed in their financial lives, and educate them on how to make their goals a reality.

Next Steps

Are you interested in learning more about how we work and the services we offer? I encourage you to reach out for a complimentary consultation. We would love the opportunity to become your trusted advisor. To get started, contact our office by calling 410-821-6724 or emailing [email protected].

About Dan

Daniel Morrison is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Jacob William Advisory, a wealth management firm whose sole mission is to service their clients’ needs beyond their expectations. Dan Morrison has 27 years of industry experience, and for the past decade, he has been committed to building Jacob William Advisory into one of the foremost wealth advisory firms. Dan graduated from the Towson University with a bachelor’s degree of finance in economics and obtained his master’s degree in finance from the University of Baltimore. He holds multiple designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL). He and his wife Beth reside outside of Baltimore, Maryland, and have three wonderful children. Dan is involved in his church and is a board member for Believe Big, a charity whose mission is to help families navigate the cancer journey. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and sailing. A good book is also never far from his reach. Learn more about Dan by connecting with him on LinkedIn.

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