Why Agency Owners Need More Than Investment Advice

I recently had the chance to sit in on a speaking session at the IndieTech Conference, where Erik Garcia addressed a room full of agency owners.

Now, coming from the financial side of the table, I expected to agree with most of what he said, but I didn’t expect to be as fascinated as I was hearing him frame financial planning through their lens.

Agency owners face a completely different set of financial hurdles than the average employee or even many business owners. Their income can fluctuate. Their business often is their largest asset. They’re balancing growth, team, clients, taxes, and eventually an exit — all while trying to build personal wealth outside of the company they’ve poured everything into.

The Difference: Advisor vs. Planner

One of the biggest moments in the session came when Erik explained the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner.

He described an investment advisor as someone focused on accumulating and managing assets. That’s their lane — and for some people, that’s enough.

But for agency owners? That’s only a small piece of the picture.

A financial planner starts somewhere completely different. We ask:

• What are you building this for?
• What does success actually look like for you?
• How do you want your money to support your life — not just grow on a statement?

Building a Financial Framework

Investment management might be part of the strategy, but it’s not the strategy. The real work is building a financial framework that supports the owner’s vision — for their business, their family, their lifestyle, and eventually their exit. It’s about connecting decisions today to the life they’re trying to create long term.

You could actually see the shift in the room when this clicked. There were some real “aha” expressions. Many had assumed all financial professionals were essentially asset collectors — gather the money, invest it, send a report. They hadn’t realized planning could be about aligning their finances with the reason they’re working this hard in the first place.

The Seven Pillars

That’s exactly why our Seven Pillars of Financial Planning resonated so strongly during the session. Many owners realized they were relying on asset collectors, not planners. They hadn’t realized that planning is about aligning finances with their personal vision.

It’s not just about portfolios. It’s cash flow, risk management, tax efficiency, business planning, retirement, legacy, and how all of it works together.

Especially for agency owners, the pieces are deeply connected — you can’t make a smart investment decision without considering taxes, business structure, exit timing, or personal goals.

My Big Takeaway

Walking out of that session, my biggest takeaway was this:

Agency owners don’t just need someone to manage money. They need someone to help them translate business success into personal financial security — intentionally, strategically, and in a way that supports the life they actually want to live.

And when that distinction clicks? That’s when real planning begins.

Wondering if your financial plan is actually serving your personal vision? Let’s talk.