Peter Fetherston

Peter Fetherston has been working as a Financial Advisor in the greater New York City area for nearly 30 years. He graduated in 1990 from Adelphi University where he earned his Master of Business Administration in Finance.
Peter started PJF Consulting Group in 2015 where he works as a Financial Advisor. In his role there, he takes pride in his ability to deliver a superior client experience, one that sets him apart from the competition. He does this by first listening intently to his client’s needs, then he puts his vast knowledge and experience to work and tailors a solution to his client’s unique set of circumstances. What his clients appreciate most is that Peter offers a spectrum of solutions that suit their needs, allowing them to have the control which helps clients feel engaged in the process every step of the way. Peter is also diligent about follow up and keeping in touch with clients which produces long-lasting and meaningful working relationships.

Outside of work, Peter fosters meaningful relationships in the community as well. Along with his wife, Kimberly, and their two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, Peter has been a long-time resident of the greater New York City area. One of his favorite ways to give back is by volunteering. Peter’s special interest is in swimming and he loves being able to coach for the Catholic Youth Organization.

Peter has spent decades amassing valuable experience in his field. He knows that it is not easy for someone to hand over the reins to their financial future but he is confident that clients will feel secure in their foundations and in their future after he has the opportunity to show them what his experience can do for them.

Where did the idea for PJF Consulting Group come from?

I was ready to make the shift from working for someone else to being self-employed so that’s exactly what I did in 2015 when I started PJF Consulting Group.

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

In the morning, I like to read the news, in order to get a broad unbiased scope of what is going on I subscribe to several different news sources so I will spend some time looking over a few of them. Then I review my schedule for the day, say goodbye to my wife and head to the office. I stay productive throughout the day by staying organized, I have the calendar on my phone synced with all of my other devices so that no matter where I am I can make sure I’m not missing any important appointments.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I like to get things on paper. I find that once I write things down, they come to life and start to take shape. I may write an idea down, then jot down some intermediate steps, and maybe even throw in a sketch pertaining to it.

What’s one trend that excites you?

More and more people are starting to work from home, and I am excited to see how this is going to change the business world. I wouldn’t be surprised if more people start their own businesses from home over the next year and I am already starting to think of how I can reach this new client base with my financial products.

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

I make a lot of lists. I find that it makes me more productive because it keeps me focused and keeps me from getting overwhelmed.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I hesitated a little before deciding to start PJF Consulting Group so I might tell my younger self to have more confidence. Looking back, it was there but I just needed to find it a little sooner.

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

You can become good at anything. A lot of people will say things like “I wish I was born with the talent to be able to play the guitar”. Well, I believe that if you study hard and practice there’s no reason you can’t become good at playing guitar.

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

Remind yourself of the reasons you are working hard. When times get tough, it will help motivate you to keep working hard if you remember why you are doing it, so don’t stop reminding yourself of those reasons.

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

Make phone calls. There are many different types of calls to make and they are all equally important and beneficial. Call people to introduce yourself and your products. While you are working with a client, don’t fall into the trap of solely emailing them, give them a call once in a while too. Then after your work may be done, call again to follow up and make sure they are satisfied. You can learn a lot during that last call, and it is also a good opportunity to get referrals as well.

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

I had a few false-starts before I was finally able to become self-employed, but I overcame through perseverance. I’m sure it all happened for a reason, to make me tougher so that I was fully ready when I finally started PJF Consulting Group.

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

I would love to be able to integrate augmented reality into my business more so some sort of app that brings data visualization to life would be perfect. Instead of boring clients by talking at them with a bunch of figures and numbers, I could show them with animated graphics that come to life right there in front of them.

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

I recently spent right around $100 on some nice plants for the office. I was reading about the health benefits of having plants in an office setting like stress reduction, cleaner air, and even boosting creativity.

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

It’s a classic but simply using Google Workspace helps me keep everything synced. It is nice to be able to add something on one device and see it on another. It keeps me productive because I don’t lose valuable time trying to track anything down.

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

What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence by Stephen A. Schwarzman. This book will make you feel like you can accomplish more than you previously thought you could. It has valuable lessons that you can apply in your professional as well as personal life.

What is your favorite quote?

John A. Shedd: “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

Key Learnings:

• Get your ideas down on paper and watch them come to life.
• Make lists to keep focused and to keep from becoming overwhelmed.
• You can become good at anything through hard work and practice.
• Improve your office space with some live plants to reduce stress and boost creativity.
• Stick to the classics like Google Workspace if that is what is working to keep things streamlined.