Eleven years ago today, I grabbed my laptop and sat down at the table on the screened-in porch at my cousin’s house in Western Pennsylvania. We were visiting family back in my parents’ hometown, so I was just planning on doing a little business planning work, as I was in the waiting period for my firm to be approved by Indiana, before we set out to visit family.

I logged into my email and saw a message from the Secretary of State’s office, and I immediately opened it.

It was at that moment that my newly formed business was legit.

With that email, I was finally able to start meeting with clients and conducting business as a financial advisor and the owner of my own Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm.

Looking back, that version of my Self had no idea that running his own firm would be the best thing he would ever do professionally and ultimately lead him to unlocking a Creator in him that he didn’t know existed, make connections online who would become his closest friends, and discover his purpose—the Authentic Life.

I wasn’t entrepreneurial as a child.
I didn’t grow up in a home with entrepreneurs.
I became an entrepreneur because I saw no other way to do what I wanted to do, and I had experienced enough to know that having limitations imposed on me by others (corporations, firm owners, compliance, etc.) was not going to work for me.

Looking back more closely, that version of my Self knew much of what I feel I’ve discovered in the last few years—intuitive decision-making, the law of attraction, the power of the mind, manifestation, following passions, etc. It was all already there, and he was living it without knowing. He didn’t know it, but he was always on the path to discovering the importance of aligning spirit, mind, body, and money, and the Pursuit of the Authentic Life.

I reflect on the last eleven years, and I am so thankful that earlier versions of my Self had the confidence to listen to his heart, follow his passions, and do what he thought he was supposed to do. Outside the box, innovative, non-traditional, and ahead of the curve is where I am supposed to live, and the only way I am able to do this is by listening to my heart and trusting my intuition.

The Pursuit of the last eleven years makes me excited for what the next eleven years (and beyond) have in store.

If I was able to build a respectable business (just shy of $100 million in AUM, damn near 100% retention of clients, and clients who are more like friends and family than a business relationship), be a present father and husband, choosing when to grow and when to plateau for family reasons, support my wife in her twelve years of entrepreneurship, and evolve with my Authentic Self guided by subconscious knowledge, what will I be able to do with conscious use of that information?

I don’t spend much time living in the past, but every July 3rd I do take a few moments to look back at the start of my business.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done for and with my clients. I’m proud that I have been able to build a business aligned with what is more important to me, and in the few times I reached for misaligned opportunities, I came back to alignment. I’m proud that I’ve maintained my authenticity. I’m proud that I didn’t sacrifice family for business. I’m proud that I’ve been able to help many other advisors with their businesses along the way. And I’m proud that I have made it eleven years as an entrepreneur.

There’s nothing wrong with being proud of the life you have created—I hope you have aspects of your life you are proud of.

And there’s nothing wrong with celebrating wins either.

So as I reflect on a great eleven years running RL Wealth Management —> RLS Wealth Management —> RLS Wealth —> RLS Wealth DBA Santiago, I hope you take a few minutes to reflect on the great things you’ve done in your life and allow your Self to be proud of those accomplishments.

​
​

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC