When I decided to become a financial planner, I knew I wanted to serve the LGBTQ+ community. This journey is not just about numbers and financial strategies; it’s about understanding and connecting on a deeper level. Here’s why I chose this path:
Provide Non-Judgemental, Comfortable Space
Financial planning is incredibly personal. It’s about connecting the money in your life with your deepest wishes and goals. This process should happen in a space where you feel safe, understood, and respected. Many financial advisors might not fully grasp the unique challenges and dreams of LGBTQ+ individuals. I strive to provide a non-judgemental, comfortable environment where my clients can openly discuss their aspirations without fear of misunderstanding or prejudice.
Understand Life’s Intimacies
Money touches every aspect of our lives. For LGBTQ+ individuals and families, financial planning often includes unique considerations, such as family planning, legal protections, and health care needs. To truly connect the dots between your money and your life, you need an advisor who can offer guidance that is specific to your lived experience.
Create a Sense of Belonging
I remember how it felt to be in spaces where I didn’t quite fit in. That sense of being out of place is something no one should have to endure, especially when discussing their future. I wanted to create a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community would feel seen, heard, and valued. My office is a sanctuary where you can bring your full self, knowing you’ll be met with acceptance and understanding.
Honor Our History and Struggles
The struggles and triumphs of those who came before us paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today. I have a deep appreciation for this history and the ground that was broken to make it possible for us to live more openly. My work is a tribute to that legacy, a way to honor the past while helping clients navigate their present and future.
Addressing Critical Topics
Many mainstream financial planners overlook the topics that are crucial to the LGBTQ+ community. Issues like inheritance rights, marriage equality, and protection against discrimination require specialized knowledge and sensitivity. I am committed to addressing these important topics, ensuring that my clients receive advice that truly matters to them.
Hold a Space for Community
One of my core values is connection. Being a financial planner for the LGBTQ+ community allows me to stay connected to the people and issues that matter most to me. It’s more than offering a service; it’s being a part of the community and contributing to its strength and resilience.
Work within a Broader Political and Cultural Context
The rights we have today are hard-won and still vulnerable to attack. Given the history and the current environment, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting these rights. My role as a financial planner is not just about managing money, but also about advocating for the stability and security of my clients’ lives in an ever-changing world.
Learn More about our Building Financial Resilience for Trans Folks
Why Brandon Chose an LGBTQ+ Specialty
Like Jim, I also wanted to serve the LGBTQ+ community when I decided to change careers and become a financial planner. But, financial planners who both openly hold themselves out as LGBTQ+ and have established firms that specialize in working with the community are still few and far between. Fortunately, in 2020, Jim and I both serendipitously attended a webinar hosted by an LGBTQ+ knowledge-sharing arm of the Financial Planning Association (called PridePlanners). We connected via LinkedIn, and I reached out to ask him about his planning approach and business model. After a few conversations, I started working for him part-time, and the rest is history.
Here are a couple of personal reasons why I serve the LGBTQ+ community:
My Own Formative Financial Experiences as an LGBTQ+ Person
While we’ve come a long way in the fight for equality, the reality is that LGBTQ+ people still experience unique financial setbacks and disadvantages stemming from intolerance and discrimination. As an adolescent, I became estranged from my family because of my sexual orientation. I then needed to build financial independence and resilience. It was a formative financial experience for me. I had certain worries and anxieties around money that my straight friends just couldn’t relate to. My personal experience is why I’m particularly passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ community become more financially empowered.
The (Deep) Relational Aspect of Planning
I believe that when financial planning is done right, planners and their clients develop a relationship of mutual trust, respect, and non-judgment in which clients can be themselves. This particularly matters for LGBTQ+ people who live in a world where we still need to be selective and careful about the people with whom we are open, lest we be dismissed, misunderstood, discriminated against, or worse. In its most basic form, financial planning requires sharing intimate details of your life, from spending habits to the beneficiaries you have on your bank accounts. At its best, financial planning involves sharing and planning with all of those details plus one’s background, beliefs, values and dreams. I find it particularly rewarding to use my own experience to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ clients so they can “think big” about their financial lives.
Jim is a financial advisor and owner of Thinking Big Financial, Inc. Thinking Big Financial is a fee-only registered investment advisor offering financial planning and investment management services. Specializing in working with the LGBTQ Community.
Please read my legal disclaimer here.