Dean Nowak

Never give up.

 

Dean Nowak is the president and founder of Infinity Financial Network, P.A. He has dedicated his entire career, more than 30 years, being a respected and accomplished professional in the financial services industry with extensive knowledge and experience.

Dean began his career in 1983 in Central Florida with John Hancook Insurance. In only a few years, he became the District Manager and then eventually the General Agent. He expanded his firm into one of the largest financial planning organizations in Central Florida with, at times, over 60 full-time career advisor employees.

During that time, Dean’s wife of over 30 years, Jennie, had twins (a boy and a girl). The twins have now completed college and Dean’s and Jennie and enjoying their empty nest in Winter Park, Florida. Dean’s hobbies include restoring old cars with his son, any water activities from scuba diving to fishing, and a good of ping- pong!

Dean is committed to uploading a fiduciary standard and uses his years of expertise to assist people with specific needs, that often times may be overlooked by other financial advisors, by providing them with customized and unbiased advice.

For nearly 25 years, Dean has successfully hosted and presented his own financial planning seminars throughout the Central Florida and Space Coast areas. He has also been asked to be a guest speaker at many events and conferences, sharing his financial knowledge to those who mat already have a financial advisor. He strongly believes that a second opinion of ones financial situation can never hurt and can only help them avoid possibly disastrous financial decisions.

Since Dean has a strong client-centered focus and strives to make the experience as convenient as possibly, he typically holds meetings at his client’s homes and/or places of business.

Whether it is helping you plan for an unexpected healthcare expenses, such as costly long-term care, or making sure that your assets will transfer easily to your family members after you pass away, Dean will provide you with objective financial advice, having only your best interest in mind!

Where did the idea for Financial Network, P.A. come from?

The name Infinity Financial Network, P.A. originated from a need to have a completely Independent Insurance agency that could access a wide variety of life, annuity, disability, and long term care companies and do so without being biased one over the other. After 19 years acting as a captive agent to one of the largest insurance companies in the world and owning a general agency with that company I began to see that we could not meet all of our clients’ needs. Diversification was the answer, having the ability to offer clients companies of all types through a Network affiliation, not a franchise but a completely independent and impartial access to these companies for my clients to meet all of their needs while offering comparisons to illustrate the best company and product for them. Today we offer a full Independent brokerage services for insurance products and securities as a stock brokers to all of our clients.

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

My typical day starts almost always with a full schedule where thorough the day I am meeting with existing clients in my office or at their home conducting reviews and service. To develop new clients almost half of our new business comes from referrals and the remainder comes from the many education evening dinner workshops we conduct thorough the year. These workshops serve as a perfect way to introduce ourselves those who attend, we do no selling at these functions, and we do not promote any company or products. We speak about how to protect assets from a variety of risks as people get older from health to financial and how to overcome those risks with simple planning strategies. One we have made new acquaintances many of those who attend our workshops grant appointments where we begin the interview process at another time to talk about their specific circumstances from health to income needs, taxes, investment management and how to avoid unnecessary investment and brokerage fees. We try to serve all of their needs accordingly and without bias.

How do you bring ideas to life?

We bring ideas to life by life by understanding our clients need first. We take their information and turn it into our inspiration to create a total financial plan that will serve our clients for today and into their future without the constant worry they may run out of income or money or leave a love one behind with financial burdens while being considerate to their feelings helping them understand what is possible and what is just impossible to do. Yes at time we bring news to these new clients that a lifestyle change may be needed because the financial resources they have may be inadequate or that they have been following previous bad advice that may be a game changer for them. Regardless, we are there to create a functioning strategy for them using the best financial tools at our disposal. The easy part is activating the plans so clients can live life without financial worries.

What’s one trend that excites you?

A trend that excites me is that clients know more about their money and investing than they did 10 years ago. This means that they are often better prepared have better questions and they know what they want as a lifestyle for the rest of their life’s. The challenge again id making sure that we develop a sound financial plan that can exceed their needs because life can throw some curveballs at us and we need to have them prepared to adjust their swing to get that base hit and stay in the game.

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

As an entrepreneur my habit is reaching out to my customers regularly. Reaching out constantly drives accomplishment. Starting any task and finishing it, finishing it correctly even if its time consuming I believe doing it right the first time is best. Being in your own business in only a way to make money. Like most successful entrepreneurs money is not what drives me, my motivation is the impact I can have on thousands of clients which then can impact their heirs. When my clients are successful with my help I get paid with smiles and thanks. My family and I have been fortunate to be in a profession that is rewarding financially to us but if it weren’t for my clients offering gratitude for my help I would find another career. But after 35 years of gratitude and friendships with clients I am reminded that I am paid well everyday because of their loyalty.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Advice to my younger self would be to no change a thing. Life always works out when you work hard, be honest with everyone, don’t live beyond your means remember that sometimes your earliest friends made in your lifetime are the best friends of life. Give you children advice and guidance but don’t hold them to your own standards let them become their own persons.

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

Try try again will lead you to success.

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

As an Entrepreneur the one is that I do over and over again and recommend that others do is be consistent in whatever you do. In business when you stop marketing you will fail, spend money in business in good and not so good of times, addition by subtraction does not work, keep your eye on the goal and make sure the goal is realistic if you set goals too high and not attainable preventing you from moving forward. And last share your success with the people around you that will inspire them too.

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

The strategy that has helped me grow my business has always been surround myself with others who are the best at what they do in their jobs an entrepreneur cannot wear all the hats when your get past a certain point in business, you must share the daily tasks so your customers are not impacted by your growth. Continue your education, stay current with financial strategies and tools for you and your clients. Always market yourself and your firm, reward those that helped you advance daily, pay them well so they see it as their own business too.

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

My one failure as an entrepreneur was to venture into an added field that I knew very little about and became a silent partner in a business not associated with Financial Services. When you are normally the leader stay the leader so I became more involved and was able to help grow that business also because anything worth having doesn’t come easily. Ask questions and listen.

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

If I were to give away an idea for a business it would be for and organizational person. Someone that would provide at least 2 times monthly a service to organize offices space, ergonomics, storage, IT help with the newest and best software introductions regardless of the type of business. A business person’s time is focused on their customers and often they neglect themselves and need help.

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

The best $100 I spent was a table in our lobby to hold a coffee maker so clients can just stop buy and help themselves just like family and just like home.

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

Ms Office. it make my life much easier.

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

As I Lay Dying Novel by William Faulkner

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote would be: “if you not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.”
–Bob Hooey

Key Learnings:

• Never give up.
• You have to take care of your customers.
• Take decision and hold onto it

Connect:

Infinityfinancialnetwork.com