Why I Became a Financial Advisor
Most of us can point to specific events that influenced our decisions and made a significant impact on how we live our lives. For me, there were multiple pivotal moments in my life that influenced my decision to become a financial advisor and led me to where I am today.
First Career Steps
Growing up in central Wisconsin, my early years were filled with pervasive financial insecurity: food stamps, moving from home to home, and not having much more than bare necessities. Those economic experiences had a profound impact on me emotionally, socially, and spiritually. A fascination with music and radio began during my teenage years, fueled by listening to faraway powerhouse AM stations at night, like “The Big 89 – WLS” in Chicago. So fascinated was I, it led to a nearly 25-year career as a radio personality on many top-rated radio stations around the country, often serving as the radio stations’ program director.
After radio, I spent several years working in corporate America. It wasn’t until 2000, when I suddenly lost an executive position without warning, that my life was turned upside down. It brought back painful memories from my childhood economic experiences, and I realized I had been letting other people control my financial future for far too long.
I quickly learned that I had insured everything (my health, my home, my car), but I was suddenly without my income—which is what made everything else possible. I had a lightbulb moment, understanding that proactive financial planning is an “insurance policy” of sorts, one that allows you to take control of your income streams and plan for a confident financial future.
In that moment, I made a life-changing decision to pursue my hobby of investing and start a career in the financial services industry.
My Career Today
Now, more than 20 years later, I see that job loss in 2000 as a pivotal moment that inspired me to pursue a career that I was always meant to have. After entering the financial services industry in 2001, I then founded my own company, WealthBuilders, in 2006 and have never looked back. As a firm, we offer full-service investment management and financial planning services, developing deep and collaborative relationships with our clients so they can live a more prosperous life.
I know my many years as an on-air radio host uniquely honed my ability to communicate with clients. I consider myself a storyteller who can make complicated financial topics easy to understand, putting clients at ease through plain-English, friendly conversation.
At the forefront of it all is helping clients reclaim control over their income streams so they can retire with confidence.
Why I Love What I Do
I love what I do because of the tangible results proactive financial planning can generate. I often see emotional responses from clients such as joy or relief. As a cancer survivor myself, I know how important it is to plan for worst-case scenarios. Because of this, I know I have a purpose. My work matters and it affects my clients in truly meaningful and tangible ways.
Are You Ready for a Different Financial Future?
I’d love to meet you, get to know you, and hear about your goals, your worries, and the opportunities and challenges you face in your financial life. To learn more about WealthBuilders and how we can help you, please call 715-386-3735 or email info@wealthbuilders.financial.
About Dan
Dan Olsen is the president, founder, and wealth advisor at WealthBuilders, an independent financial services firm based in Hudson, WI. Before becoming a financial advisor, Dan had a nearly 25-year career as an on-air radio personality and spent several years in corporate America.
Dan helps clients build and manage their wealth to create a specific plan for retirement and loves teaching them that being wealthy is about more than just money. Through his distinct collaborative approach, he provides the financial guidance and resources necessary to help clients move forward in life and put their values into action. He loves knowing he has a purpose and that his work and effect on people and their lives matters. Through his education and 20-plus years of experience in the financial world, he has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in the financial industry, including obtaining the Series 7, Series 66 held with LPL Financial, and Life/Health & Accident insurance licenses.
Outside the office, Dan enjoys visiting the Great Lakes with his wife, spending time with his grandchildren, fishing (and ice fishing), listening to ’70s and ’80s music, and supporting charities that address food insecurity, especially with children. To learn more about Dan, connect with him on LinkedIn.