My entire career has been devoted to finance. I received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois in 1994. I became a CPA, and then worked for a privately held firm in various financial capacities and as a controller for a division of a large company. However, even while I was in school for accounting, I knew I didn’t want to spend my career as an accountant.
I decided my calling was to play 1st base for the Cubs. That didn’t work out so well, but I decided my 2nd calling was to become a financial advisor. I joined the industry in 2002 working for a big “Wall Street” firm where there was pressure to generate commissions and a requirement to wear a suit to work every day. I didn’t much care for that stuffy atmosphere, so I decided to start my own firm in 2004, which turned out to be the best career move I ever made. That firm still exists today as Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management, and the plan is to keep this company in existence for decades to come.
I have 3 children, one of whom is in college and the other two in high school. All three of them are doing well charting their own path to success and happiness. They aren’t all necessarily taking their dad’s recommended path of becoming future executives with Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management, but there’s still time.
I like to keep life exciting, and part of my mission is to do something fun every day. Work comes first, but I use my free time to enjoy what life offers outside of my career. That could come from creating something, going for a swim, playing golf, playing a game, playing drums, or playing just about anything. Ever since I was a child, I have been making games out of everything. Creating games is a good way to set goals. Combine setting goals and motivation into a game, and you will find that your desire to win the game will also help you accomplish your goals. I carry this same mindset as a father and as a business owner, and this is the approach that I take with my clients in their quest for financial peace.
I would consider myself to be a highly motivated person. If you get a chance, ask me to tell my story about what prompted this self-motivation. It’s too long for this bio, but it’s a story I like to tell.