Today we’d like to introduce you to Reagan Wagner
Hi Reagan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My Father, Bob Wagner, founded an insurance and mutual fund company in 1981. I went to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX and obtained a Biology degree. At the time, I worked for HEB Grocery Co in the Quality Assurance Department. My mentors at HEB realized I had a better knack for numbers and worked with me to work as a Team Leader in the manufacturing division and then as a Project Leader back in the QA Team. I was fortunate to have great mentors and fond memories of the team and people at HEB. I started help my father parttime while working as a Project Leader to help the teachers in our local community. After prayer and discussions with my wife, Deborah, she said I was a better person when I worked for myself and in the financial business. So, I left a great career and great people at HEB and started a company. At that time we did not do financial planning. When I spoke with Bob about that he said I would need to figure it out but he would help. Through some existing advisors with a similar vision, we started to build an advisory business. This business grew and over time we merged my practice with my Father’s and then with his bestfriend. In 2007 we created and purchased what is now National Financial Alliance and Strategic Financial Concepts. We have been able to grow indepently and then together with key employee, advisors, and clients along the way to build a full service wealth management firm. We now have over 80 advisors in our alliance and collectively manage over $3 Billion in advisory and brokerage business across LPL Financial and Schwab through our entrepreneurial advisor model. We arrived here through the grace of God, great relationships, and a focus on serving others. We are founded on Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, and Fun.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to success is full of ups and downs. The struggles early on of earning the trust and support of clients is a challenge. We needed to demonstrate we were working with them to build their goals and dreams and not just after their money. This takes time. So, when I started we borrowed money to live on and my wife supported us. Having her full support and the support of my friends and family was paramount to our successs. The market crash in 2008 and 2009 occurred right after we purchased the Registered Investment Advisory Firm in 2007. My now business partner, Kristen Wagner, stepped in as an employee at the end of 2007 beginning of 2008 and helped keep that company afloat through great cash management and portfolio management. She has been paramount to the success of the RIA and helped stabalize that business which eventually led to her becoming a partner.
We’ve been impressed with National Financial Alliance, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our firm is founded on Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, and Fun. It is our mission to help our clients and advisors reach their vision of financial success. Our focus may be slightly different. We believe money management is only one piece to the overall puzzle. We focus on the core beliefs of our clients. What do they value; what are their goals; what is really important to them. I believe if you know this, then we can build a program to address the things that really matter and make sure their structure is sound. This allows us to build on a firm foundation.
Our firm is a full-service firm and provides business, estate, and financial planning, risk management, portfolio/money management, as well all insurances. We also handle mutlifamily offices, private clients, and traditional client programs.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Communication is key during any crisis and Covid was no different. We also learned the importance of our continuity plan. We are able to move employees home and continue to work at a high level while others were struggling. The ability to serve our clients and advisors during crisis builds confidence in our systems and the ability to adapt and overcome. We called, emailed, and met with as many of our NFA Family as possible. We revamped our meetings to virtual meetings and continue to do a large amount of virtual meetings because of their efficiency and effectiveness with our clientele.
Pricing:
- Clients can choose how they want to pay and the model that fits their overall needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tnfa.net
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reaganwagner
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfinancialalliance/posts/?feedView=all
