17³Ô¹ÏÍø

What initially drew you to this field/profession/industry?

My grandma, Marcella, meant the world to me. She never had a lot of money and my grandpa passed away unexpectedly in 1982, she was left in a difficult financial position. He managed all of their financial assets while she stayed at home.

For most of her life, she was a housewife, but while my father and uncle attended college, she worked at the college lunchroom. She valued education and did her best to help her children pay for college. In retirement, she lived off Social Security paychecks and would send me her bingo winnings while I was attending the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø - sometimes as small as $5. She lived until she was 98 years old and passed away in a nursing home in 2008.

Her experience inspired me to help people manage their money and live a better life in retirement. Initially, after graduating from the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø with a degree in accounting and health administration, I was interested in managing nursing homes but I eventually settled on financial planning. Now at LaBarge Financial, I help lead people like my grandma, Marcella, to a confident retirement and work to provide them with a stable financial future.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this field?

I highly recommend finding a mentor to learn from. In my role, I have a responsibility to manage my clients’ lifelong savings. College provides a solid foundation of knowledge, but learning how to run a business and manage people’s financial futures requires additional experience.

I worked under Brion Harris, a financial advisor in Maryland, who showed me how to apply my skills to my practice. This partnership provided me with real-world experience to put my knowledge to good use and find success. I am currently returning the favor by working with a new college graduate who offers a fresh perspective on my work while also learning from me about how to run a small business.

How do you balance work and personal life?

Balancing my work with my wife and four children is one of the biggest challenges as a small business owner. In the early years of LaBarge Financial, I had a 5:30 p.m. appointment that was my most popular time slot for clients. However, it was my last one of the day and would typically go long, and I often didn’t get home until 7:30 or 8 p.m. I removed the time slot around seven years ago to prioritize family time at home, and I can’t imagine having appointments go that late now.

Family is my priority. I’ve never done a weekend appointment because that time is for my family. In my personal life, I coach all three of my boys in basketball, baseball and football. I have committed myself to allotting nights and weekends to spending quality time with the family and weekdays to helping clients with their financial futures.

How do you stay connected with USD, fellow professionals, or alumni?

I valued my time at USD and always carry my 17³Ô¹ÏÍø roots with me in my current role. Whether it’s through reading social media posts or The 17³Ô¹ÏÍøn, I have a meaningful connection to the University and love hearing about the school’s continued success.

I’m also a rare book collector, and I’ve remained in touch with contacts at the USD Library about donating part of my collection. During the 1930s, writers in 17³Ô¹ÏÍø released many editions of the American Guide Series, which provided guides for small towns and the Black Hills. I have a full collection and would love to give it to the University and offer future Coyotes the opportunity to appreciate an important piece of 17³Ô¹ÏÍø history.

What have you learned in your current role or from mentors along the way?

Greg Huckabee, a professor in the business school, taught me an important lesson. He had a quiz every day in his class, and if I didn’t prepare for class every day, I wasn’t going to get an A. It taught me an important lesson to be prepared at all times, which is especially true in my current role. 90% of life is showing up, and when I’m managing client funds, I can’t take a day off. Clients notice and appreciate when I’m available for them.

As I continue to grow LaBarge Financial as one of the fastest-growing financial firms in the country, I carry my 17³Ô¹ÏÍø roots with me in everything that I do. My midwestern work ethic remains vital to the success of our business now and in the future