Chad Fuson • Murfreesboro, TN
RAI Advisors • LPL Financial
The way we approach our work is often shaped long before we choose a career. For me, it began with my upbringing.
I was fortunate to grow up with hardworking parents who set a strong example of responsibility, family, and how to treat people. My father worked in banking and sparked my interest in finance at an early age. My mother was a bookkeeper and later owned her own beauty salon with a loyal client base. From both of them, I learned the value of showing up for people, working hard, and doing things the right way.
Those lessons still influence how I approach my career today.
My faith is a major part of my life. It shapes the husband, father, friend, and advisor I try to be. I hope my family and friends think of me as someone who lives by the teachings and principles of our church, and I hope that is also evident in the way I interact with clients. To me, faith is not something that belongs in only one part of life. It should influence how we listen, serve, make decisions, and respond when others place their trust in us.
That perspective has a practical effect on my daily work with clients. I try to begin each client relationship by asking, “How can I help the people in front of me?”
The answer depends on the client. It may mean helping someone prepare for retirement, understand Social Security or health insurance, plan for income needs, evaluate debt, or determine whether they are financially ready for the next phase of life. It may also mean telling someone that what they already have is working well and that major changes are unnecessary.
That kind of honesty matters. Financial advice should not be about directing every client toward the same solution. It should begin with understanding the person, their family, their concerns, and what they are hoping to accomplish.
My family’s experience with adoption has deepened my appreciation for service, patience, and gratitude. My wife and I have been blessed with two daughters through adoption, and that journey has been one of the most meaningful parts of our lives. It reinforced that many of life’s most important decisions require faith, commitment, and a willingness to walk through uncertainty.
That lesson applies to family, but it also applies to client relationships. People often come to an advisor during times of transition or uncertainty. They may be asking, “Can I retire?” “Will my family be OK?” “Have I done enough?” or “What should I do next?”
Those are not just financial questions. They are life questions.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping disciplined savers see what they have accomplished. Many people spend decades working, saving, and doing the right things, but they do not always know whether it is enough. Helping them see their situation more clearly and give them greater confidence about what may be possible is very fulfilling.
Related Article: Faith and finance: Guiding values-based investments My advice to other advisors is simple: Let your values show up in the way you work. Clients can tell whether you are truly listening. They can tell whether you care about their outcome. They can tell whether you are trying to help them make a good decision or simply trying to complete a transaction.
For me, this business is about relationships and service. It is about treating people the way I would want to be treated, doing the work carefully, and helping clients move forward with greater clarity. Technical knowledge matters, but the attitude behind the advice matters just as much.
Disclosure: Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. 805 S. Church Street, Suite 9, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
Photography by James Strength
