Entrepreneurs Within Big Companies - 2018 Fall-Winter Spectrum Magazine

Financial Planning: Entrepreneurs Within Big Companies By Miriam Tarver Growing up, Marlon Brandon Hunter Even with the backing of a large to some Jr. came to realize what he did not company such as his, Northwestern people who want to be: An accountant. Mutual, “you’re basically in business are near and Yes, it was what his father did for for yourself,” he said. “So, you have dear to you who years, and it put food on the table. to really think about life as a business you feel would value a But to his young eyes, it seemed quite owner. You have to think, I’m starting conversation.” stressful. “I always would see what he from scratch, I have a product, how do His efforts have not gone unnoticed. Last would go through at the end of the I market the product to people, what’s year he was recognized with a Quality month as an accountant. It wasn’t my target market — different things Award from the National Association something I wanted to do,” said like that.” of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Hunter, 32, a financial adviser based in Making — and keeping — contacts anhonor typically awarded to those with Greensboro, N.C. had a key role in his venture. 10 or more years in the profession. He At North Carolina A&T, that sentiment “I walked in the door and I had roughly was around the five-year mark. held sway. Thus, the student who 200 names and numbers of people to Being a business owner “is a grind,” he entered with a plan to major in call on as potential clients.” He said said. “There’s nobody telling me when computer engineering (“I realized I did he learned quickly that only about a to be in the office [or] when to leave. not have a passion for it”) switched third of the potential clients are true There’s a lot of self-management that his major to finance, did well in connections, but he was undeterred, goes into doing this.” economics classes, then settled on figuring that “if I could make it for six Hunter gives credit for a lot of economics as a major after finding out months, I would be above average.” his success to the leadership of he needed just one year of accounting His performance was stellar by his NABA Greensboro. He said he was for that degree instead of the two company’s standards, and he cleared introduced to NABA to give a CPE talk. needed for a finance degree. “It hurdles that just 15 percent of “From that talk, I not only gathered turned out to be a perfect fit,” he said. advisers usually hit in six months. “It new clients, but I also ended up Hunter graduated in 2010 with a was a big deal,” he said, and “a serious joining NABA in order to have a more degree in business economics, joined confidence boost.” active role in growing and developing the workforce as an assistant manager The work that he does is the organization.” Within three years at a Walgreens, and decided to return comprehensive financial planning, time, he was asked to take on a more to college in 2014 with an eye toward dealing with investments, risk- active roll and join the board and is a career. management and insurance, and currently a chapter vice president. The plan, after connecting with some retirement and distribution. Even with the hard work of obtaining A&T alumni: “Get on with the Federal One of his guiding principles is a and retaining clients — and looking Reserve, work my way up through the saying: “It’s not who you know, it’s ahead to adding advisers and ranks, and make history by becoming not what you know, but it’s how expanding his business — Hunter the first black Federal Reserve chair. much people like you.” Though he takes time to fulfill the association’s You have to dream big.” does not discount the importance motto, “Lifting As We Climb.” His But he veered off that path. He of networking and connections, he financial-planning services extend earned his second degree, in general said doors open quicker and people to other entrepreneurs, some of economics, and aced the steps that are more inclined to help based on whom are the first in their family to led to becoming a financial adviser. likeability. Hunter estimates that 90 own businesses, and he has helped “Whatever company you get on with, percent of his business is word of younger people become interns in they’re going to teach you everything mouth. “I believe in the planning the field. “Being so close to A&T and you need to know,” he said, “then work that I do. I believe that I operate UNCG (University of North Carolina at comes the state licensing and at a high level.” He tells clients: “If Greensboro), I’ve helped recruit other continuing education.” you value the work that we’ve done interns. Some of them are still with together … I’d love to be connected us and they’re off and running. I see them working and it energizes me.” ▲ FALL/WINTER 2018 | SPECTRUM 9