Never too late: Rick Fischer’s journey to becoming a financial advisor

Rick Fischer built his life and career in the IT industry.

But beneath three decades of technical work, he felt something was missing. "I felt burned out and unsatisfied in what I was doing," Fischer reflects. "My career no longer had purpose."

Sparking the pivot

Fischer was always interested in the markets and investing, and one day it nudged him to reach out to a friend in the financial industry. That single conversation sparked a bold pivot: after thinking it through, Fischer committed to three months of intense study, passed the Series 65 exam, and stepped into financial planning.

Timing and personal support

Navigating such a major career shift late in life is never simple, but the timing and personal backing he needed were aligned. "First and foremost was a supportive wife who understood where I was at in my career and how I was no longer feeling challenged," Fischer says.

With their only daughter nearing college graduation, it felt like the right moment to make a change. Driven by a deep desire to help people, financial services offered him the meaningful impact he had been seeking.

Leveraging past experience

When Fischer stepped into his new profession, he brought two powerful advantages with him: decades of technical know-how and his own perspective as a client. "I think being a person who was working with an advisor helped me to see things from a client's eyes before I became one," he explains. "Knowing the questions that I would usually ask of my advisor helped me to focus on areas in my training to help me be more helpful to my clients."

Simultaneously, his background in IT allowed him to adapt effortlessly to modern financial technology stacks. As his practice experienced rapid growth, the technology provided by Sequent Planning proved essential in keeping up with the daunting task of client onboarding.

Streamlining operations through tech

Where some financial planners view digital tools as overwhelming, Fischer actively sought them out to streamline his daily operations. He relies on AdvisorEngine's wealth management tools on a daily basis to raise cash, place trades, and manage account workflows. By utilizing the platform's onboarding process roughly 85% of the time, he drastically reduced onboarding times while virtually eliminating the errors and rework associated with paper forms and wet signatures.

For advisors cautious of new technology, Fischer encourages them to spend time learning the tools to experience the massive time savings firsthand. "As the old cliché goes, 'Work smarter, not harder,'" he says.

Building a sustainable partnership model

To establish his practice and build a sustainable business, Fischer chose to partner with an established team in his market rather than going it alone. Operating within the group at Jackson, WI-based Retirement Understood, Fischer directs his focus heavily toward the securities business, while team members handle annuities and insurance.

This holistic model gives new clients access to a broad suite of offerings, driving steady growth for the practice.

Finding purpose over burnout

Looking back on his transition, Fischer sees change not as an obstacle, but as a necessary pursuit. "Finding your true passion and seeking opportunities to meet that can be very rewarding," he says, offering proof that trading burnout for purpose is always worth the effort.

Financial planning and investment advisory services offered through Sequent Planning, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA). Sequent Planning conducts business as Futurity First Wealth Management (FFWM). Futurity First Insurance Group (FFIG) and Sequent Planning are wholly owned subsidiaries of Senior Market Sales (SMS). Advisors are registered with Sequent Planning as independent contractors and not employees of Sequent. Insurance products, Legal, Tax and Accounting advice are not offered through Sequent Planning.