843. Always Blazing His Own Trail
Stanley Funches, Sr.
“I want to continue to grow what I’m doing. I want to continue to touch people that I may not ever meet. And I think one of the reasons why I went into the book arena is that I’m hoping that someone can read ‘The Quest for Financial Independence’ and get a few nuggets of the experiences I’ve had with my clients. It could help them whether I ever meet them or not. And they can say, ‘gosh, I didn’t think about that this way. Or maybe I should look at implementing this.’ If I can touch them in a positive way, then that would be my vision for the future. To continue to use my years of experience to help more people in different ways.”
Stanley T. Funches, Sr., is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, who specializes in assisting business owners, professionals, and retirees with their retirement goals and savings. He is the owner and president of INTELUS Wealth Management. He has over 20 years of financial planning experience and is committed to assisting his clients create, build, and protect their legacy. He has just completed a career dream by publishing his first book, the Amazon Best-Seller, “The Quest for Financial Independence: 10 Areas of Your Planning You Should Not Ignore.”
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
“When I finished my degree in Finance from Tulane in 1993 I expected to become a stockbroker. I was turned down by Dean Witter because of no experience and felt quite disappointed after all the work I’d invested earning my degree. Seven months after I had sent out a passel of resumes, I got a call from a little company—Enterprise Rent-A-Car. They offered me an entry level position, which was hardly my dream job. Little did I know that the fundamentals of business that I learned there would turn out to be seminal to my entire career in financial planning. I learned: how to make branches profitable, how to work in a team environment, how to build relationships via networking, how to put employees first to create a positive and productive culture, and so much more. Working there for 6 years was my ‘real-world MBA’ and I made lifetime friends in the process.”
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
1. My mother and dad instilled in me the importance of discipline and hard work in everything you do. They were especially insistent that my primary focus growing up was my education, as the foundation for building a successful and meaningful life.
2. I was encouraged from an early age by many teachers and coaches in my school and church environment who were exemplary role models.
3. It’s important to learn early that what may appear as a set-back
or even defeat in any aspect of your life may turn out to be the exact opposite and lead to opportunities of unimagined possibilities.
4. In tackling any career challenge, it’s important to have a support system, both financial and emotional, to help you manage your way through difficult times.
5. We only get one chance at this life, so always, always pour your best talents and passions into whatever you have set out to achieve.
On His Bookshelf
Careers: Financial Planner