Clint Haynes

Be completely transparent. The financial services industry has had a bad reputation for years – rightfully so – for hidden fees. I wanted to be the complete opposite and be as transparent as possible so clients know exactly what they’re paying and what they’re receiving.

 

Clint Haynes is a Certified Financial Planner® and founder of NextGen Wealth.

He’s been in the financial planning and financial services industry since 2001. After being in the industry a few years, it became quite apparent to Clint that there really wasn’t any difference between financial services firms – they all basically did the exact same thing.

With that being the case, he wanted to create a firm that truly centered on financial planning first and foremost. And, that’s exactly what he did in creating NextGen Wealth, where they create a plan first and then determine implementation from there.

While this type of planning used to be reserved for only the wealthiest investors, it is Clint’s passion to bring these services to the people who need it most.

Where did the idea for NextGen Wealth come from?

After being in the industry a few years, it became quite apparent to me that if you didn’t have a $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 in investable assets, you weren’t going to get much help from the majority of financial planning firms out there – and if you did, most likely it was going to be the same generic advice they give to anyone no matter their situation.

With that being the case, I wanted to create a practice that was centered on working with individuals who didn’t exactly fit that mold, but were certainly on their way and needed quality individualized planning advice – the truly overlooked and underappreciated. So that’s exactly what I did in creating NextGen Wealth, where we specifically cater to successful business professionals, entrepreneurs and small business owners.

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

It could be a number of things depending on the day. I try to get up early and get my workout out of the way first. After that, it’s in the office working on my daily task list that was created the day prior. I typically try to knock off the biggest things first, but I find that easier said than done.

Days can involve plenty of screen time, meeting with existing and prospective clients, networking activities, etc.

How do you bring ideas to life?

You just have to do it and rip off the Band-Aid. Your big idea is never going to be perfect at first but if you just get it out there you can garner so much feedback and continue to tweak and refine it overtime. Big ideas can be scary and I would guess most people never do anything with them because they don’t want to be embarrassed that someone won’t like. Who cares? Commit to it and believe in it. Consensus overtime will tell you whether it’s going to work or not.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Self-driving cars. I’m that one person out of ten who thinks they aren’t a good driver. I admit it and am good with it. Bring on the self-driving cars!

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

Independence

What advice would you give your younger self?

Speak up. If you have something to say or a “big idea” lingering, then say it. Don’t be afraid of what others will think or say.

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

Iced tea sucks. #truth

For some reason I have a passion against iced tea and I think just about everyone I know is aware of it. Most people love it and I will never understand. I’m definitely right on this one – people just don’t know it yet.

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

Create to-do lists. My to-do list and calendar control my life which, as an entrepreneur, I believe helps immensely. Otherwise, I’d just be chasing shiny objects all day.

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

Being completely transparent. The financial services industry has had a bad reputation for years – rightfully so – for hidden fees. I wanted to be the complete opposite and be as transparent as possible so clients know exactly what they’re paying and what they’re receiving. I always try to look at things from my own perspective if I were the client.

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

Advertise appropriately and intelligently. I did a decent amount of print advertising in smaller local publications at first with little to no traction, but I just kept doing it. I needed to cut my losses much earlier and deploy those funds elsewhere. Test things out, but move on if it’s not producing results.

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

Create a website that you’re passionate about and get people there. It’s amazing how many people are doing this and making an incredible living from advertising, affiliate programs, etc. We’re talking 7 and 8 figure businesses just from a website about a topic they were passionate about. Granted, it won’t happen overnight, but it is extremely doable.

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

Headspace. It’s a meditation and mindfulness app that has done wonders. It allows me to take a break, refocus and come back with more energy. I never knew mediation could be so powerful. I’m certainly not perfect at it, but continue to try.

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

Mixmax. It’s a Google Chrome extension for Gmail. It allows me to keep my inbox nice and clean, set reminder, schedule meetings through email and so much more. I’ve used it for about 3 years and can’t remember what it was like without it. It has to save me at least 50 hours a year.

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

I love Influence by Robert Cialdini. Just an awesome book about how our minds work and what influences us to make decisions. Fascinating and a little scary at the same time. If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s a must read.

What is your favorite quote?

“If you’re unwilling to fail, then you’re unwilling to succeed”

Key learnings:

• Commit to your big idea and get it out there. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
• Don’t be afraid of asking for feedback
• Smile more
• Take a break and give your mind some time to refocus

Connect:

www.nextgen-wealth.com