Meet Mark Wayton, CFP®, CRCP®

In my prior role at Advance Capital in compliance, I had to learn the financial industry inside and out. The experience allowed me to see just how much bad financial advice is out there, which now helps me to educate clients on how the financial industry works and how Advance Capital is different.

I think the biggest obstacle investors can face is their own selves, and the way to overcome this is through education. It’s why I take time to guide clients through the ins and outs of finance first, and then Advance Capital’s philosophy. That way, clients learn how to set reasonable expectations as well as understand what they can control, such as costs, and what they can’t control, such as the market. This knowledge can help clients avoid costly mistakes, which ultimately can help make them successful investors.

Giving back to your community not only makes a positive impact in the lives of others but also your own. It helps you recognize that you may not know what someone has gone through or what their circumstances are; therefore, you approach people with compassion and respect. This is certainly true in the workplace, which is why Advance Capital’s various charitable efforts strengthen our commitment to helping others.

In order to best serve someone as a financial adviser, I think you have to fully understand that person and his or her situation, which requires being a good listener. And, you can only be a good listener by truly caring about the person that comes to you for help. Once you get to know a client’s specific needs, it is then crucial to have the technical know-how to meet those needs.