For as long as I can remember, I have always liked to share my thoughts/opinions when asked to do so. This goes all the way back to primary school where I was always the “eager student” with their hand up wanting to answer the teacher’s questions when either no one else knew the answer or didn’t want to share it. I enjoyed the sense of accomplishment in either being able to work out the problem, solve the riddle or just have a viewpoint on a piece of literature.

Since then my interest and capacity for solving problems and thinking outside of the box really came into its own. It has nothing to do with being the smartest in the room (far from it in fact) but this desire to share my thoughts and knowledge has meant that when I don’t know the answer to a question, I will always seek it out.

Throughout my life I have generally found myself in friendships as the listener with people often asking for my opinion or advice when they have a question they need help with.I never tire of being asked these questions and I see it as the highest of privileges for people to be asking me for my advice (no matter if I have just met them, or have known them for a while).

These life experiences and problem solving abilities that I have developed (and continue to develop) have led me to becoming a financial advisor. I see what I do as providing my clients, friends and family with “peace of mind” as they know that at the end of the day, I am here for them to either work through a complex situation, answer or help them find the answers to whatever questions might be troubling them. When my clients share their thoughts, feelings and or problems with me I feel privileged that they have the trust in me to share such personal details. This privileged feeling is something that I cherish dearly and feel that I have a great responsibility to now and forever protect this trust that my clients and friends have placed in me. It is this trust in me that makes me want to continue to do what I do.

Andrew Brown