Welcome to another episode of The Roadmap, where host Lee Heisman dives into the journeys of exceptional entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business leaders shaping their industries and planning their legacies. This week, we feature Parker Smith, partner and financial advisor at Focused Financial Group, who shares how he turned early lessons from a family business into a thriving career. From redefining client relationships post-COVID to overcoming personal and professional challenges, Parker’s insights will inspire anyone seeking to navigate their own path to success.
Parker Smith’s journey into financial advising began at an early age, working alongside his father, a seasoned employee benefits advisor, in a family-run business. Although Parker initially resisted following in his father’s footsteps, his exposure to the entrepreneurial world sparked a passion for ownership and leadership. Today, as a partner at Focused Financial Group, he continues to build on that foundation, recently spearheading a succession plan to buy out a retiring advisor.
Reflecting on changes in the financial advisory space, Parker highlighted the shift from impersonal, algorithm-based services to the growing importance of relational advising. He explained that the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for clients to trust advisors who can guide them through uncertainties. Post-pandemic, Parker has embraced in-person and virtual client interactions, valuing personal touchpoints as a key business driver.
One of Parker’s central philosophies is persistence in the face of challenges. Whether navigating family health struggles or proving himself as a young professional, he emphasized a mindset of resilience: “Life is about what you do with it, not about what happens to you.” Professionally, he overcame early doubts about his expertise by focusing on empathy, stating, “How much you care is so much more important than what you know.”
Parker also stressed the vital role of follow-ups in building strong relationships, recounting how coffee meetings and casual interactions have deepened client connections. Despite his youth, he’s become a trusted advisor for clients nationwide, demonstrating that success is less about age and more about dedication and adaptability.
“You’re not defined by your struggle. The easiest thing in life is to do nothing, but nothing doesn’t get you very far. Life is what you make it, and you better make it pretty good because you only get one chance.” – Parker Smith.
