If you are willing to pay the price and do the right thing, the sky’s the limit.
Shon Flaharty of Clearwater is the CEO & Managing Partner of Flaharty Asset Management. He has been a financial advisor since 1995 and a registered principal of LPL Financial since 2007. Shon attended the University of Miami (FL) on a football scholarship where he earned his BBA in Finance in 1987. Shon earned his Certified Financial Planner designation while at Merrill Lynch where he spent approximately ten years as a Senior Financial Advisor. Shon also worked as a Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor at the Private Bank at Bank of America for over three years.
Shon has spoken at national business conferences on topics ranging from investment discipline to investor behavior. During his years at Merrill Lynch, Shon traveled the country teaching investment and planning concepts to his peers.
Shon founded Flaharty Asset Management with a clear vision in mind to work with a limited number of families, not only to provide a first class independent investment platform, but also to provide the services of a family wealth management office. During his decade working in the big name Wall Street firms he realized it was all about the firm, not about the client. In 2007 he set out to create the firm we have today, focused on putting the client first, providing transparency, and making a meaningful difference in the financial futures of our clients.
To key to success is half days, as Shon says. There are 24 hours in a day, pick which 12 you want to work. You can’t always control the outcome, but you can control the behavior. His investment philosophy mirrors his persona at work and outside; do the right thing, get the big decisions right, put yourself in someone else’s shoes, treat people with respect, admit your mistakes, and be honest.
Shon and his wife Renee have been married since February 1990 and have three children. Acting on his strong beliefs on the importance of giving back to the community, the entire Flaharty family is involved in numerous charities and organizations. Shon’s hobbies include spending time with his family, golf, wine, reading, boating and travel.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
To start a fiduciary firm where the client came first, with no firm in the background trying to push their agenda and products
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I start early, definitely when I do my best work. I try and be productive by time blocking and focusing on the big picture.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Ideas- I never know from where or whom they will come from, but I always collaborate with my team in order to make sure we execute our ideas as best we can
What’s one trend that excites you?
The fact that our business has become more transparent. This makes the RIA/Fiduciary model even more sought after.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Understand that nothing is impossible.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Bet on myself earlier. If you are willing to pay the price and do the right thing, the sky’s the limit.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Being honest is infinitely more valuable than being the best.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Turn your vision into a formal plan. It will take many shapes and forms as you go, but you have to have plan. That being said, it is not a one time deal, you have to review it often, update and most importantly record both your personal and business goals 1,3,5,1O years out.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Tireless pursuit of your goals knowing I was in it for the long haul.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Well, everyone fails at something sometime. I have always thought that if you don’t fail, your•not trying hard enough, get out of your comfort zone. We had a particular investment strategy that didn’t work out like we thought. We owned it, made the necessary changes and moved on.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think there continues to be potential in outdoor pursuits.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I put a $100 dollar bill in a woman’s purse at church when she wasn’t looking. It looked like she could use it and I thought it might brighten her day when she got home.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Client contact software- it goes far beyond just names and addresses, it is the hub of our value proposition.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I know it sounds corny, but, How To Win Friends and Influence People comes to mind. Tried and tested book on how to treat people. Another might be Find Your Why
What is your favorite quote?
“1/2 Days” that was the answer my favorite professor gave me in college when I asked for
one tip on how he got where he is. That being said, he proceeded to clarify in saying” there are 24 hours in a day, you better be working 12″.
Key Learnings:
- Make yourself answer some tough questions, you’ll be surprised when you’re honest with yourself.
- Never stop trying to get better. If you’re not practicing, there’s someone out there who is; and they’re going to win.
- Character, values, and honesty takes you a lot further than ‘being the best’.
Connect:
Securities offered through LPL
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.