Cindy Couyoumjian

Get up early and go to work. Do something that most people don’t want to do, and you will be successful.

 

Cindy Couyoumjian was born in Warren, MI. She attended Oakland University and earned her marketing degree in 1985. After graduation, she moved to California and joined The Equitable where she served the company for the next eighteen years.

In 2003 Ms. Couyoumjian became an independent advisor. She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She continued to enhance her education and perfect her talent. She has seven security licenses as well as her Insurance license. She has been creating investment opportunities for her clients for over thirty years in the industry.

Cindy Couyoumjian owns and operates Cinergy Financial. Cinergy Financial is a private financial planning firm. The firm is committed to enriching its retail investors to financial literacy thru education and knowledge. They seek to empower investors to make good decisions. Cindy Couyoumjian and her team are devoted and passionate about doing the best they can for their clients.

Where did the idea for Cinergy Financial come from?

A investment philosophy of 2 or more organization to produce a combined effect greater then the sum of separate parts.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My day begins at five in the morning. I work-out then go to the office and work until six or seven at night. it is a ten or twelve-hour workday, six days a week. I have a team of ten and I try to make every minute count. I am very structured and focused.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I believe every idea starts with reading. It creates ideas and ideas create opportunities. There is research to be done. It is important to speak with others to do some brainstorming. It is good to have feedback and constructive criticism and helps me grow and give me empowerment to change with logical decision making.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that excites me within in the financial service industry is knowing that there are going to be many more opportunities in the future. These opportunities provide options that will enhance and allow people to invest as large institutions do. There will be a level playing field. Everyone will have the same opportunities and investment strategies that the most successful and largest institutions have had access to for the last thirty years.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

The habits that I have are urgency and focus. Everything is important. We move quick, we stay on task, we don’t allow any interference with emotions. We simply focus on the tasks that need to be accomplished without negativity getting in the way.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self not to be so impulsive. I would say to take a step back and to think it through before you make a rash decision. If you are making a big decision, make sure to have a committee. A lot of us tend to make decisions on the seat of our pants but we need to make logical decisions.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe that the sixty-forty model of a two-asset class model of stocks and bonds may be modified. Most people in the industry think differently because they use the two-asset class model. However, after all the research that I’ve done, I believe that investors need to upgrade their investment portfolios, when they do, through their cellphones or computers.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Get up early and go to work. Do something that most people don’t want to do, and you will be successful.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

One strategy that has helped me grow my business is to empower my employees. Empower them and teach them their job and let them run their own business within the company. When you empower them; they will be very productive and very loyal employee that will help you grow your business. Also, invest in yourself and your business.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

One of my failures in business may have been being too impulsive. If I didn’t do enough research, sometimes I made decisions. Information can be dangerous, however researching the facts can help avoid mistakes. It is a good idea to go into a mentorship with someone. If you go at it alone, you’re going to make a lot more mistakes verse if you’re a part of a team of people in the industry where you can learn and grow. I should have gotten involved with other practitioners or mentorship or advisors.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I think it is important for someone who wants to become an entrepreneur, to do so. But they should be aware that it is not for everybody. They must decide how many hours a day that they want to work. At the end of the day, if you want to be self-employed you are going to have to work more and it is going to take longer. Always invest in your business, as it helps you to grow to be successful.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Tithing is a good idea. I think giving is living. I think that it is important for people to be generous and give as much as they can to others. Be grateful and be positive, they are all ingredients for success.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Redtail. It is a client management system. I believe every business owner should have one, to stay connected as much as possible with your clients.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I am really focused on empowering women. I would recommend, “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. It encourages women to grow in the corporate environment, which can then lead to empowering you to be your own business owner.

What is your favorite quote?

Trends are your friends.

Key Learnings:

• Empower your employees, be generous, give them flexibility. They are the foundation of your business; you will create very loyal employees and they help you grow your business.
• If you are making a big decision, make sure to have a committee.
• When we make decisions from emotions, we tend to be impulsive; use logic to help

Connect: