Why Nahanni now takes care of my clients

Why Nahanni now takes care of my clients

David Edgeley chose Nahanni Ackroyd to take over his financial advising business. I interviewed David to find out why. But before getting to that, I wanted to know a little about David. His first career wasn’t in finance at all. David had a thriving international business building custom log and timber frame stairs and other wood products. In fact, his YouTube channel that he started just before closing his log business featuring that work boasts over 5,400 subscribers and his videos have received several million hits. Even today he receives inquires to take on projects. But when David discovered he had an allergy to cedar, he saw it as an opportunity to pivot. With a father-in-law and brother-in-law recommending their careers as financial advisors, that seemed as good as any place to start.

“I just like working with people.”

As David pursued his new career as a financial advisor he realized “there was always so much to learn and so many challenges.” Whether it was the legal areas of compliance or the financial vehicles themselves, the industry offered ongoing opportunities to learn and grow. And he discovered something even more rewarding. “I just like working with people,” says David.

“I know that the people I worked with are better off because I helped them to save that bit each month and get organized.”

Before training as a financial advisor, David believed he knew about his own finances. He had goodsaving habits and cash flow skills. But other than that, he hadn’t really known much about it. He discovered many clients in a similar situation. David enjoyed sharing with his clients the many ways they could improve their financial situation. That provided a great deal of satisfaction. “I know that the people I worked with are better off because I helped them to save that bit each month and get organized,” says David. “I’ve had clients who have passed away and the money from their life insurance helped their whole family out, whereas before they would have been back to work, just getting by.”

“It was an interesting career.”

 So, why retire? In some ways, it came down to timing. The larger organization within which Davidworked was updating its systems and while they were doing a lot of things right, like asking the people who do the work what was needed, there were also a lot of growing pains. Also, while it was satisfying watching clients who took advantage of his adviceears later. Nevertheless succeed, it was equally difficult to witness those who chose to do their own thing and in many cases be in the same position or even further back a few years later, for David, all in all “it was an interesting career” and he would have been happy to take his own advice, had he known this information in his earlier business.

Why Nahanni? David had been working as an advisor for about 3 years when Nahanni started. It hadn’t been that long since he faced the steep learning curve of the first couple of years himself and he was able to encourage her when things were tough in those early days. “Nahanni and I got along really well right from the beginning. I think we think a lot the same,” says David. “She has a great sense of humour and our values align well.”

“I wanted someone to look at them as people first.”

But the number one reason David decided to entrust his clients to Nahanni was their shared perspective on how to approach their businesses. Whereas some people might see his clients as a pay cheque first, David “wanted someone to look at them as people first.” He knew Nahanni would because they share a belief that clients’ interests come first. Not only does Nahanni now look after all of David’s clients, many of whom are his friends or had become his friends during his practice, she is also his financial advisor. While he could handle his own financial affairs, he chose not to, because having another set of eyes on his goals is very important and if anything happened to him, he knows his “wife can seek Nahanni’s guidance and help.”

“In my heart and soul I trusted Nahanni with my business and my clients, and I trust her with my finances too.”

 Ultimately, David says, “In my heart and soul I trusted Nahanni with my business and my clients, and I trust her with my finances too.” David is now enjoying what he helped many of his clients achieve: the freedom of retirement. He is already looking forward to turning back to his creative talents with wood.

But, not with cedar this time.