By Dewane Lewis, LUTCF, FSS®, CLF®, RICP®
1847Financial Managing Principal – Nashville, TN Headquarters

After 37 years in this business, I have learned a simple truth. Where you build your practice matters as much as how you build it.

I started at 18. I thought I was heading toward the pharmaceutical industry. My father pointed me toward financial services, and I never looked back. Over time, I moved through roles as a financial professional, sales manager, trainer, and leader. Each step gave me a different view of what works and what holds people back.

Today, as a Managing Principal, leading 1847Financial Nashville, I spend most of my time talking with experienced financial professionals who are asking a key question.

“Is there a better way to grow my business without giving up control?”

That question is exactly why I believe in what we are building at 1847Financial.

Own your success. Start to finish.
One of the core ideas that drives how we operate is simple. You own your success. From growth to legacy, you control the direction of your business.

Too often, experienced professionals hit a ceiling. The platform feels rigid. The expectations feel narrow. Growth starts to slow, not because of ability, but because of structure.

At 1847Financial, we take a different approach.

• You build your business your way.
• You choose how you serve clients.
• You decide how you grow.

Our role is to support that. Not limit it.

That means access to a full wealth platform, protection solutions, marketing support, and practice management resources. It also means having a team behind you that understands what it takes to run a business, not just produce.

People first. Always.
This business is built on relationships. Not transactions. That is why another philosophy we live by is putting people first. Relationships drive everything we do.

I tell my team this all the time. If we get the relationships right, the results follow.

That applies to clients. It applies to the financial professionals we bring into our firm. It applies to how we lead.

When I meet with a financial professional who is considering a move, I am not trying to “sell” them. I am trying to understand where they want to go and whether we can help them get there.

Supported independence is not a tagline
A lot of firms talk about independence. Fewer back it up with real support.

Here is what I believe. Independence without support leads to isolation. Support without independence limits growth.

You need both.

At 1847Financial Nashville, we focus on supported independence. You have the freedom to run your business. You also have access to leadership, peers, and resources when you need them.

That shows up in simple ways.

• Direct access to leadership when you have a question
• Collaboration with other financial professionals who are growing their practices
• Tools and technology that help you move faster, not slow you down
• Marketing and business support that adapts to how you work

I also make a point to end conversations the same way. “How can I help?” That mindset matters more than any system.

Who thrives here
Not everyone is a fit. And that is intentional.

The professionals who do well here tend to share a few traits:

• They think like business owners
• They want to expand beyond a single product focus
• They are open to new ideas and ways to grow
• They care about building something long term

Many already have an established book. They are not starting from scratch. They are looking for a better environment to scale what they have built.

A decision worth getting right
Changing firms is a big decision. It should be.

I have seen what happens when someone finds the right fit. Growth accelerates. Confidence improves. The work becomes more meaningful.

I have also seen the opposite.

If you are an experienced financial professional and you feel like your current platform is holding you back, it is worth taking a closer look at your options.

• You should have the ability to build your business your way.
• You should have support that helps you move forward.
• You should feel aligned with the people you work with.

That is what we focus on every day.

If that resonates with you, let’s talk.

How was 1847Financial’s Philosophy built for you?
Read more from our President, Heather Nagengast.

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