Why I Became A Financial Advisor
By Scott Tschappat
Life is unpredictable, is it not? But just because we don’t always know what’s around the corner doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for an unexpected future. Trust me, I’m telling you this from personal experience!
When I was on the cusp of turning 17, my world turned upside down. I woke up one morning and found my dad unresponsive. We eventually found out that an aneurism in his aorta had caused his death. In the midst of our grief, there was some comforting news: my dad, a conservative and forward-looking banker, had purchased a life insurance policy. The money we received kept us afloat, but I had to quickly learn the value of money and how to stretch it. In one memorable conversation with my mom, I told her to spend some money on something that wasn’t essential. She put me in my place and told me that I didn’t have any idea how money worked. She knew that if she started spending down the principal, it wouldn’t be long until she had nothing left.
Little did I know that my experience in this life-changing moment as a teenager would set the trajectory for my future career.
How I Got My Start
It wasn’t as simple as waking up one day knowing I wanted to be a wealth advisor––I had a bit more to learn first! I went to college at Colorado State University, and after graduation, I joined the brewpub industry. I got the opportunity to be a general manager at a new brewpub, but as you know, not all opportunities are successful! After three years of trying to get this project going, it finally crashed and burned. Thankfully I was young enough that it wasn’t devastating to me financially, and I could easily bounce back. But later in life? That’s a whole lot harder.
This, plus seeing my mom manage our family’s finances, is what opened my eyes to the value of having a plan and a long-term perspective for your finances. From that point on, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives by helping them prepare for their future despite what challenges they may face along the way.
Fast-Forward To Today
Now I am a wealth advisor at Acute WealthCare and have spent the past two decades helping my clients secure their wealth for the future. This is incredibly important for the specific clients I serve—nurses and other healthcare professionals—because, with their demanding careers, they often don’t have the time or desire to manage their finances on their own. Through a customized approach, I walk my clients through every area of their financial life to ensure it aligns with their goals, priorities, and values.
Why I Love What I Do
There’s just nothing better than seeing the relief on people’s faces when they realize that, one, they aren’t alone on this journey anymore, and two, that they are on track toward their desired future. Many years later, and with much more knowledge and experience under my belt, I ended up helping my mom manage some of the money that was left to her. I go into all my client interactions with the intention to steward their money like it is my mother’s and to support them just as I do her. I have a strong sense of duty toward my clients and I want to see them succeed!
Take The Next Step
I am always open to meeting new people and seeing how I may be able to help. Whether you’ve already started planning for the future or have yet to put strategies in place, I encourage you to reach out to me today for a no-obligation conversation to see if we’d be a good fit for each other. Schedule a 15-minute introductory phone call to get started!
About Scott
Scott Tschappat is a wealth advisor at Acute WealthCare, an independent, fee-based comprehensive financial management firm with over 20 years of experience. Scott is committed to helping his healthcare worker clients create a financial plan that brings them peace, security, and dignity. Scott learned the importance of proper financial management and making a plan for the unexpected at a young age when his father passed away suddenly and he watched his mother use the life insurance money wisely to take care of their needs, both present and future. He strives to steward his clients’ money well, as if it were his own mother’s, and help them every step on the journey to their financial future.
Scott lives in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife, Bridget, a school counselor at All Souls Catholic School, and their two daughters, Sarah and Emily. He loves sports and has been lucky enough to coach both of his daughters’ basketball teams. In the spring and summer, you can find Scott getting his hands dirty gardening and enjoying live music at Red Rocks or another local venue. To learn more about Scott, connect with him on LinkedIn. You can also register for his latest webinar on What We Do & How We Help.