Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac M. Cooper.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Isaac. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am Jamaican by blood and a Floridian by birth. 95% of my family is still overseas. Growing up in Fort Walton Beach, Florida (The Fort) and having the foundation of a Carribean household began the melting pot of ingredients of what we see today. After receiving a full athletic scholarship to Samford University from former Heisman Trophy Winner and then-head football coach Pat Sullivan, I thought I was on my way to the NFL. Then injuries forced me to change course. I’ll never forget the day after our last game when we played Auburn University. I cried like a baby. Not necessarily because it was over, but because I had no clue what I was going to do, and what I wanted to do was no longer an option and to be completely honest if it was up to me I’ll still be playing football.
In this very moment of struggle, uncertainty, and disappointment, the revelation of why I exist became extremely clear in what was probably one of the most painful moments of my life. In turn, I had to identify my God-given talent as it pertained to what I could give to others that could outlive me. I’ve always been good and comfortable with numbers. I’ve always had the heart to help people but never knew how I could marry the two. Immediately, I transitioned into the financial industry with the goal to help clients navigate and make smart financial decisions. After transitioning from a Fortune 100 company, IMC Financial Consulting, LLC was birthed with the intention of leaving an impactful legacy not only for my family but also for the families of the clients we serve.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The approach we have taken while building our financial services practice literally started us on a dirt road filled with rocks with no direction while working with those that are driving on the interstate. Seeing the void in providing professional sound financial counsel for those that may be in the lower tax brackets has forced us to not only clear the path but also lay the concrete to ensure those that come after us have a smooth road ahead. It is a common theme for financial professionals/advisors to only focus on those that have money. Depending upon the company, you may not be able to schedule a meeting with one of their professionals unless you have a certain amount of money in the bank. We immediately felt that someone’s income or savings account should not dictate if they can have a conversation with a professional or not. So as we equipped our company with the necessary tools, team, and techniques we’ve endured a multitude of financial strains and emotional fatigue.
Those struggles magnified the importance of managing one’s mindset in the midst of turmoil, disappointment, or in perceived powerless situations.
IMC Financial Consulting – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
IMC Financial Consulting was launched literally out of frustration. After working with a Fortune 100 company, we saw the need to provide professional financial counsel that was not tied to a product nor a quota. This allowed us to work with clients that range from business owners, attorneys, hourly employees, to professional athletes. Under this platform, we help with cash flow management, budgeting, student loans, credit, savings, goal setting, etc., all in the clients’ best interests based on their aspirations and objectives. What we’ve found is that income does not assume infrastructure and IMC Financial Consulting helps provide the infrastructure necessary to capitalize on your income for you and your household.
The three pillars we’ve built our firm on is Exposure, Education and Execution. Once we are exposed to your goals and objectives we then educate you on the best route or way in getting there as you educate us on how you have gotten to where you are today. Last but not least, the Execution phase is actually the most important, we tell our clients every day, “We can place the coordinates in the GPS, show you the alternative routes, put you in the most efficient car to get you there, but it is still up to you drive the car.
We specialize in working with current and former athletes. Professional athletes are usually the first or one of the few family members to have either the level of income or wealth they’ve been able to acquire. Unfortunately, unless they have a family member that has dealt with multi-million dollar contracts, it is often time difficult for the athlete to receive counsel from those same family members due to their lack of financial literacy in this realm. When working with professional athletes our initial focus is their family members. The financial health of the family members closest to the professional athlete will directly reflect in their ability to help financially but also maintain a positive relationship.
We have developed our own Financial Literacy curriculum.
Those that know us or clients that work with us are very aware of the foundation necessary to make sure the future is secured, which is through our mantra which is #plΔnning.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success isn’t anything in which you pursue. It’s more so becoming a person of value.
Success is not making a lot of money, not having a big house with a car by the lake, success is not having a lot of friends, success is not having a lot of accolades and awards. Success is ultimately discovering your purpose and then completing it before you die.
The only criteria that should measure the success of one’s year, month, week, day or hour are directly aligned with what you did with the hour, day, week, month and or year versus what I SHOULD or COULD have done.
Contact Info:
- Address: 418 19th Street Ensley
Birmingham, AL 35218 - Website: www.planningimc.com
- Phone: 800-658-5702
- Email: ic@imcfinancialconsulting.com
Image Credit:
Kayla Gladney – Dawn G Media
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