The art of reinvention
At Raymond James, it’s never too late to try something new – and succeed
Tim Keffer was in his late 40s when he decided to reinvent himself – a decision he made following the sale of a software company. As the national director of sales, he owned a portion of the business. When the company was sold, he found the opportunity he needed to start a new chapter.
Tim’s close friend and current business partner, Kevin Doyle, suggested that he become a financial advisor. But while Tim had always followed the markets and was a discerning investor, he didn’t have any professional experience in finance.
“I had a business administration and marketing degree, and I spent the majority of my career on the sales and marketing side. However, I found that the role of advisor met a lot of my personal needs – I enjoyed teaching and had maintained a lifelong interest in the markets.”
Following Kevin’s suggestion and fueled by his own passion for finance, Tim decided to join the Advisor Mastery Program (AMP) at Raymond James. After speaking with David Patchen, the senior vice president of PCG Education & Practice Management at Raymond James, and Matt Ransom, the vice president of new financial advisor development, Tim felt confident that AMP would provide him the support he needed to establish himself as an advisor.
“In under three years, I felt like I earned a master’s in finance. From offering me the education to transition into my new role, to giving me the time and support to earn the certifications I needed, AMP was the best training program I’ve ever been in. Also, being 25 years older than most of the people in my AMP class, I had a unique set of needs. And what I found was that AMP was very good at addressing those needs.”
In addition to benefiting from AMP’s teachings, Tim also earned his Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, his Accredited Asset Management SpecialistTM designation and his Certified Financial Planner™ certification while in the program.
Once he graduated from AMP, Tim began his career as a standalone advisor, working closely with Kevin through their team, Griffin Wealth Management in Timonium, Maryland. Now a knowledgeable advisor, Tim attributes much of his success to starting his career at Raymond James.
“I’m really grateful for my experience in AMP. The level of investment that Raymond James puts toward developing new, successful advisors is, I would venture to say, unmatched. I think what Raymond James has done differently is taken a unique approach to training and looked at it from a long-term perspective.”
In addition to recommending AMP to aspiring advisors, Tim also encourages them to view the role of financial advisor not just as a job, but as a career and a mindset.
“If you work hard, this can become a wonderfully rewarding career that can allow you to live an exceptional life. You just need to be patient and dedicated.”
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP®(with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.