This is the first article in a new series in which Wealth Solutions Report will relate the extraordinary stories of the lives of advisors and professionals to provide inspiration and vision for people in our industry.
We’re calling the series “Extraordinary Stories” because the tales told by the subjects of these articles are indeed extraordinary.
This time, we caught up with Dustin Roberts, Wealth Manager at Savvy Advisors in Central Valley, California, to ask him how he overcame the challenges related to a heart condition, how this experience changed the perspective on his life and career, and, among other things, steered him towards a career as an independent wealth manager.
WSR: Can you share what it was like overcoming the challenges related to your heart condition?
Roberts: Humbling, at the highest level. I was 39 at the time of my open heart surgery and had told everyone that I would fully recover in 2 weeks. That did not happen. Even getting in and out of bed was a challenge for over a month. Physically healing from the surgery is a very long process that cannot be rushed. It’s a good thing that I had my wife, who pushed me to get up and go on several walks a day to keep moving.
It’s a good thing that I had my wife, who pushed me to get up.
The other aspect of overcoming this surgery was the mental aspect. Not being able to do things for myself was incredibly frustrating. It was difficult to not be able to open the refrigerator, or even open a window. Basically, any movements involving pushing or pulling with my upper body could delay healing.
When I had to rely on my family for everything, I lost all sense of independence. I could only watch so many movies before fixating on how long this healing would take, and how frustrated and angry I was that I had to get this surgery.
WSR: How did these events change your perspective on life and career?
Roberts: After surgery, I was off of work for about 75 days. I had worked full-time in banking for the last 17 years, so being off work for an extended period of time really forced me to reflect about my career, family, health and life.
I remember that right before I went into surgery, I was lying on a gurney holding my wife’s hand. We prayed and tried to laugh about all the prep work done by the nurses. At that point, I realized that in just a few moments I would go under, and I would either wake up from surgery, or I wouldn’t.
When I woke up from surgery about 12 hours later, I was grateful to be alive, but I knew from that moment that my life was going to change forever. With God keeping me alive and giving me the opportunity to see my family again, I committed to the fact that I was going to do many things differently. I was finally able to truly reflect on all the blessings that I had in my life.
WSR: How did your new perspective steer you towards a career as an independent wealth manager? Did it change your life in other ways?
Roberts: Several years ago, I wanted to leave banking and go independent. Although I knew that I would be successful, I struggled to take the leap of faith that every business owner or entrepreneur has to take if they really want to forge their own path. I have a wife and three daughters, a mortgage and other roadblocks that made me feel like I had to stay working as an employee.
I wanted to leave banking and go independent. Although I knew that I would be successful, I struggled to take the leap of faith.
However, after surgery, those fears and roadblocks started to become ammunition for me as to why I needed to take a leap of faith and put my future in my own hands. I took this opportunity to change the narrative of my career. I wanted to remove minimum thresholds and work with any client or family that wanted to work with me, not just work with people who already had millions. I wanted to remove the red tape that prevented me from doing what is truly in the client’s best interest. With Savvy, I can take the proper time, sit down with clients and create a plan that works best for them.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
