Some things in life captivate us at a young age and never stop fascinating us. For me that thing was planning. Whether it was my baseball card collection, my studies, or how I was going to retire at an early age, I was always trying to lay out a road map for the future. That’s why, fresh out of college, I immediately joined a Fortune 500 company, holding various roles in finance and project management. After a decade of great experience and meeting some amazing people, I was ready for something different, something that would allow me to add value to people’s lives instead of a corporate balance sheet. My experience at NVR had prepared me to handle multiple strategies, through various and countless obstacles, to plan for both the short and long term. I loved the idea of helping others navigate the financial complexities and decisions they face so they can plan for their ideal future.
The Journey
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rider University where I was a four-year member and captain of the baseball team (shout-out to the Broncs for their return to the NCAA Tournament this year!). After 10 years at NVR, I felt I had built enough relationships and learned the planning strategies necessary to take a leap of faith and launch my own practice as an independent financial advisor. I was extremely fortunate to be able to partner with and learn under one of the top CFPs in the country. As I continued to build my knowledge, experience, and practice, and, more importantly, find fulfillment in providing good, objective advice that put my clients’ best interests first, I decided to take another leap of faith—founding my own firm.
Branching Out
That’s how Birds Eye Wealth Planning was born. It’s the culmination of everything I have learned over the past 20 years—the good, the bad, and the ugly. As President and Founder of Birds Eye, I have the privilege of building lifelong relationships with my clients, many of whom have become friends. As the name implies, we work together to clarify goals by evaluating from a “Birds Eye” (macro) view of their finances before drilling down to the smaller (micro) details of the plan. Bringing these two perspectives together allows me to custom design a thorough financial plan that encompasses every aspect of their financial life, from risk management and tax strategies to behavioral finance, investment management, and, most importantly, goals-based financial planning.
The Best Part
Hands down, the best part of my job is my clients. The relationships I built in my previous corporate life allowed me to start this journey, and it has only grown from there. I love learning their stories, celebrating with them as they reach goals, and watching their families grow at the same time. I am thankful that I can carry some of their financial burden and support them, often being one of the first phone calls when life takes a turn—either positive, negative, or sideways. I love seeing the relief on people’s faces (in person or via Zoom!) when you give them the road map to the life they dream about. My clients have become dear friends and I am grateful to walk this journey alongside them.
It’s a dream come true for me to be an entrepreneur and have the chance to do what I love and provide for my family. It’s my goal that Birds Eye Wealth Planning will be here long past my time as the President, whether that’s through my kids taking over or hiring and training younger advisors to continue to do right by the industry and my clients. My hope is that the next generation of our current clients will be working with Birds Eye long into the future.
Take The Next Step
Now that you’ve heard my story, I’d love to learn more about you! I’d love the chance to hear about your life, your dreams, your worries, and your financial situation to see how I can help. Schedule a free, introductory phone call online or reach out to us at 609-532-1090 or by email at rob@birdseyewealthplanning.com.