Bryan Heilman
“One of the reason I chose this journey is how I can use my career change to assist others — and answer the question: does this make financial sense?”
Have you ever felt that your future wasn’t where your feet are? It’s a question that strikes home for many of us and that’s exactly where Charleston’s Bryan Heilman comes in.
While some of us feel "financially frozen", he quickly melts the ice; first with his smile, a shake of the hand, and then what he can for you. Bryan is more of a lifestyle engineer than a financial planner. His ideal partnership is with someone who thinks well before the jump. "I prefer to answer the question, does this make financial sense?", he affirms.
53% of Americans lack confidence in their ability to make financial decisions, and it varies heavily by generation from 62% of Baby Boomers to 30% of Gen Z. And nearly 60% of Americans are fearful about their financial situation, often leading to high anxiety and lack of sleep (NerdWallet/LendingTree).
While many of us are rooted in the idea that long-term investing begins when you first contribute, Bryan is quick to remind us that it's in the planning- the very first notion of your thoughts—weighing pros and cons, creating a blueprint for our visions, and seeking guidance — that are the first steps.
"I like to be the second or even third pair of eyes when it comes to your future." Bryan is with his clients from the messy middle to well after they settle and is confident in providing resources if there is anything he can't answer. In other words, he’s comfort within the confusion.
With over a decade of retail management, Bryan believed that in taking care of your crew, in turn, they take care of you, and thus the customer. He was often assisting team members and acquaintances with life advice to professional goals. After much frictional disagreement with upper management, such as better employee benefits and pay, Bryan searched where his value was a vision. After much reflection, reworking his family’s financial structure and instilling financial acumen in his son sparked a new passion. Taking his advice "does this make sense?", he spoke to his brother, who is well-versed in the financial industry. He was greeted with, "I'd thought you'd never ask." His brother's assurance gave Bryan the confidence to transition.
"One of the reasons I chose this journey," he affirms, "is how I can use my career change to assist others." Here his experience is a strength in developing long-term relationships that lead to long-term investments.
"I develop personalized strategies by knowing my client's story," Bryan affirms. "By understanding their current situation, and all their goals, together we organize, build, protect, and transfer their wealth." His ideal clients are corporate executives transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship. "While they move into a space where their valuable time is best spent on their business, I ensure that their family's goals are top of mind and the strategies to achieve them are consistently reviewed."
Furthermore, Bryan serves as a community connector with people's best interests at heart – offering resources and informing them of events that best suit their interests. From networking meetings to attending sports events, he doesn’t shy away from introductions.
Bryan and his family have been calling The Lowcountry home for over a decade. Whether Bryan and his wife are rooting for their son’s sports team or the Charleston local teams he now gets to be apart of the richness the city has to offer.
While navigating any financial voyage can be downright scary, Bryan's ease is evident from the first moment you meet him. Hospitality is an integral part of his personality and his business. That’s his way of making the world a better place.
