With a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Meghan Gray, Practice Development Specialist with 1847Financial Dallas/Fort Worth, brings a unique perspective shaped by a career in education and coaching competitive volleyball. The transition into financial services fueled her passion for mentoring others. Let’s dive into Meghan’s journey.

What made you decide to join the financial services industry?
I came to the industry from a career in education. I love helping people accomplish their goals, hone their craft and fulfill their dreams. My years of coaching very competitive travel volleyball added another layer. Combining both my love of education with my competitive nature made financial services the perfect fit!

What roles have you had along the way?
I started my career as a financial professional at another firm and was later promoted to a Development Manager. After living in Idaho and Florida, my family and I returned home to Texas, where I now serve as 1847Financial Dallas/Fort Worth's Practice Development Specialist.

What does your firm offer that others don’t? What makes you stand out?
We excel at tailoring our support to our financial professionals. We take the time to understand what motivates them, what makes them tick and how we can best support their goals. They know we are fully committed to their success and willing to go the extra mile to make their lives easier. That level of personalized care sets us apart.

How do you partner with financial professionals?
It starts with getting to know ideal client is, understanding their business plan and assessing where they are versus where they want to be. From there, I identify resources that can help bridge any gaps. Together, we establish a cadence for support, check-ins and accountability tailored to their needs – whatever that looks like.

Tell me about how you support financial professionals.
Most often it looks like helping them create content and processes for seminars, brainstorming prospecting ideas, case design, business planning, business succession, prospecting events, or generally anything that will help them create the practice of their dreams.

Describe your ideal recruit.
My ideal recruit is well-rounded, fiercely competitive and driven. They’ve experienced success but aren’t content to stop there. They are coachable, open to change, thrive in a team environment and are great at building relationships. Being a strong communicator and goal-oriented are essential.

What has been your biggest success in your career?
A recent highlight was hosting our first Breast Cancer Awareness Event at our office. We had the privilege of hosting 27 individuals from the financial services industry, featuring incredible speakers who shared their powerful breast cancer journeys and offered insights on overcoming adversity, something we all encounter in life. How it’s vital to take care of ourselves, our community and our mindset through those trials. They were truly remarkable. The event also included food, drinks, a hat bar and permanent jewelry — but the true success was in the connections formed that night. Bringing people together is a passion of mine and this event exemplified that! Check out the event’s recap blog here.

Do you have a quote or saying that you live by, or that guides you?
I have always told financial professionals that I will never ask them to do something I haven’t done or wouldn’t be willing to do myself.

What do you do for fun? Free time is a rare commodity these days! My husband, Chad, and I have been married for 20 years and we have three daughters – ages 13, 12, and 8. They’re each so different, which makes getting everyone moving in the same direction a fun challenge. We’ve built a strong community of friends and love doing life with them. As a family, we enjoy swimming, watching our daughter play softball, family movie nights, cooking, traveling and adventuring together. The beach is our happy place, and we return as often as we can!

What to learn more about the support Meghan and her firm offer financial professionals? Connect with Meghan on LinkedIn.

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