After years at a larger firm, Dave Grant launched his own financial planning business, Finance for Teachers, in Cary, Ill. Follow his high's and lows of starting his own RIA in his bi-weekly blog, The New Generation's Practice.
For the past six years, I have started work at 8:30 a.m. and been able to leave at 5 p.m. (most of the time). Ive had a structured day in which I know what tasks I needed to accomplish. Given the places we have lived, that has meant a 45 minute commute in the morning and at least an hour at night.
Now that my office is in my bedroom, I can fall out of bed and be at work.
I love getting back those two hours a day I spent commuting. It allows me to start work earlier in the morning and then at 5pm, I can finish up and go play with my two boys. But, structuring my time in between those hours is still a work in progress.
My list of things to get my business running is almost complete, and all of my major expenditures are done. Now its time to start building my practice, but to try and do that without a structure and processes in place would be a disaster! One task that will be worked on incrementally is to implement procedures for every task that I carry out. Along with
Another thing that I will be putting in place soon is RescueTime. While social media is one of my marketing strategies, I need to be aware of what is marketing time and when it evolves into wasting time. I need to ensure Im being productive so I can attract clients and start making money. I also need to have alerts in place to get focused but also when to take breaks. I love the flexibility of being self-employed, but internally Im screaming for a schedule.
Got some ideas for Dave? Leave them below.
Grant is also the founder of NAPFA Genesis, a networking group for young, fee-only planners and the founder of Fee Only Consulting, which focuses on developing the skills of Gen Y planners. In addition, hes
