Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Sell
Hi Alan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2007 with degrees in Latin and Finance. It was kind of a unique combination, and back then, the joke was that I’d end up running the finances at the Vatican. Instead, I spent a few years working in the non-profit space, contributing to some causes that are still very important to me and my family to this day. In 2015, I wrapped up a few projects for the non-profit I was working for, and I decided to move into Financial Planning, based on my Finance degree. I chose Financial Planning in particular because it was a way that I could use my financial background to help people. Once I started working as a Financial Planner, I realized pretty quickly that I wanted to be among fiduciaries – people who work in the best interest of their clients, as opposed to selling financial products for commission. I was thankful to find an opportunity working for a financial advisor who was also a former hedge fund manager. I learned investment techniques there that still influence how I manage investments today. I went on from there to middle management at a firm advising 401(k)’s, and I led the portfolio design process for that firm. I absolutely love the portfolio construction process (managing investments is one of my favorite parts of being an advisor), but I wasn’t getting to spend much time with our clients, and at times, I wasn’t able to implement the investment strategies that I would have preferred to use, and so eventually, I decided to open my own firm. That was a really hard decision, because I was walking away from a stable income into the unknown. It was hard work, lots of nights and weekends to get things started. But I’m a big believer in community, and I built my business by helping people in my community regardless of whether they could help me back. Over time, when people learn that you really care about them, they’ll start to open up to you about all kinds of things, including their finances. And that’s when my business really took off. Our culture is still about helping people. Oddly enough, the most rewarding part of starting a financial advisory firm isn’t the financial part – it’s getting to help people succeed.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It absolutely hasn’t been a smooth road! Starting a business of any kind always has its difficulties. I had two primary challenges. The most difficult part was that I had to begin my business without bringing clients over from my prior firm. That meant I started with no income on day one. I practice what I preach to my clients, to be conservative with debt and careful not to spend money you don’t have. That meant I actually spent some time making side money tutoring math to high-schoolers and college students while I was building my business! It wasn’t glamorous at all, but integrity is important to me, and so I felt I needed to give myself the same advice I would give my clients. The second challenge is that I knew how to be an advisor, but I didn’t know yet how to be a business owner. That meant that things like marketing were completely new to me. To this day, I’m still always learning things about how to run a business effectively.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Polaris Asset Management?
Polaris Asset Management provides financial planning and investing services to families in the Metro Atlanta area. We are a fee-only firm, which means we do not sell any commission products, only our advice. We are also fiduciaries, which means we work in the best interest of our clients. I am most proud of the deep relationships we’ve been able to form with our clients, as well as the unique expertise we have in investment management.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
The most important person who deserves credit is my wife. When I first started my business, we had four small children at home, and she supported me 100% all the way. I’m incredibly thankful that she had unwavering belief in what we were trying to build, because the early years were hard! She never once doubted or challenged what we were trying to accomplish together.
Beyond my wife, I’m also incredibly thankful for the community of other small business owners that I’m a part of in Sugar Hill. We learn from each other, challenge each other, and support each other, and I can’t say how thankful I am for that. The downtown Sugar Hill business community is incredible.
I also had a colleague and former coworker named Nick Morgan who really pushed me to go out on my own and start my own company. He could see that was where I was really going to be successful, and he kept encouraging me until I finally made the leap.
Pricing:
- I charge a percentage of the investments I manage for my clients. That puts us on the same team. When their money grows, I do well, but when their money shrinks, so does my pay.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.polarisassetmgmt.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polarisam
