Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Miller.
Rick, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my career in financial services at the University of Chicago, where I studied family economics and lifetime planning, and received my Ph.D. I taught economics at Johns Hopkins for a few years, then worked for a while as a business consultant and for an investment firm, where I learned the inner workings of mutual funds and financial product marketing. In 2002, I decided to found my own firm, Sensible Financial Planning and Management. I wanted to make state-of-the-art, unbiased and personalized financial advice more widely available, especially to people who haven’t been comfortable using a financial advisor.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Working as an entrepreneur in financial services can be daunting. The biggest challenge is communicating our unique value to prospective clients. Many financial advisors claim to do thoughtful, careful financial planning and to provide objective advice. We know we are different – our clients tell us so. We’re here to help our clients prepare for their families’ futures, not to sell products. But it’s difficult for people to sift through the competing claims and find the right advisor for them. It’s also difficult to find great people to join our team. We are looking for a combination of strong quantitative skills, emotional intelligence, compassion and integrity, as well as the ability to work effectively and comfortably as a member of our team.
Sensible Financial Planning – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At Sensible Financial, we’re true to our name. Everything we do, from the investments we make to the people we hire, is based on a sensible, analytical approach. We believe that you get more out of your financial plan when you can meet with and ask questions of those who understand it best – those who designed and wrote the plan. We think that your financial plan must recognize that you and your family are unique, and that you should be able to trust your financial advisor to act in your best interest.
Unlike some financial advisory firms, we are fee-only fiduciaries. As fiduciaries, we are required to behave in our client’s best interests, unlike other non-fiduciary investment firms.
We were recently named to the Financial Times Top 300 Financial Advisers of 2017. This is a significant recognition for us – the FT 300 list is a useful and credible tool for investors seeking a credible and experienced advisor.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The proudest moment of my career was our Open House celebrating the inauguration of our new offices in the Waltham Watch Factory. Many clients came to celebrate with us, and to tell us how much we meant to them. It represented the culmination of many years of hard work, and also the beginning of many more opportunities to help clients make the most of their money and their lives. Another big moment was announcing that Rick Fine would become a shareholder at the firm. As a small business owner, it’s an exciting step and affirmation of what you are trying to build. Fourteen years ago, he was the first employee to join me at Sensible Financial. We now have over 10 employees between our Waltham, MA and San Diego, CA offices.
Contact Info:
- Address: 203 Crescent Street, Suite 404
Waltham, MA 02453 - Website: https://www.sensiblefinancial.com/
- Phone: (781) 642-0890
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensibleFinancial/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/5399085/
Image Credit:
Small Circle Studio Inc.
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