I have --let's see-- one insurance, one tax, one financial planning, and one investment advisory license to keep up. By keeping up I mean each license requires that I have so many specific continuing education credits a year. I didn't mind this burden since I would travel to conferences and see people and I was even the Treasurer on the Western Regional Board for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. So with all this traveling to 3-5 conferences a year, I got to get away from the office and learn and network at the same time. But after being in the hospital for 4 months, I struggled to keep up getting all my continuing education credits in while recovering. But--- I did it. With the help of all the online classes available, I still studied and got my licenses renewed. It really wasn't a burden for me since I actually enjoy this stuff. Weird, huh?
Anyway, I had the opportunity to go to a conference this year at the Palace hotel and get a bunch of credits in two days. I was apprehensive since I would run into so many people that I know and of course, haven't seen since the accident.
I found a "business" type pantsuit and Joseph dropped me off at the hotel early in the morning. It was great to be amongst my peers once again. People would stare and smile at me as they passed hurriedly, or stop and teary eyed asked how I was, and many asked if I was still practicing which gave me a chance to tell them about my new business-- Whole-Hearted-Way- a financial coaching service. Coaching is a hot topic in the advisory field. Fee-only planners are all about building relationships and many seasoned pros are trying to add more value to an already full and mature practice and coaching is the answer.
I hadn't practiced much on the escalator with my cane and as I got my name tag, the woman behind the desk noticed my hestitation to go down it. So she bellowed out--"Will anyone offer to help this woman down the escalator?" I was very embarassed and also happy to find out as I turned around that someone I knew, Milo Benningfield, said gently, "Fern, I would be happy to help you down." Relieved and happy to see him, I said okay and we went downstairs and talked about what we were doing in our business lives as much as we could before the lecture started.
After that, I felt very confident that I could do the escalator alone, and I did. And I am glad I went and I had a great time. I have a lot of information to share with you all so -keep checking this site often.
By the way I am offering a free teleclass called "The 7 Steps to Creating Your Own Financial Plan". Just call this bridge line at 4pm Pacific time on June 20th to listen in. Call 1-712-451-6000 Participant code is 838115# . Hope to hear from you at the teleclass!