As with many people’s career journeys, my entrance into the financial advising field was a mixture of pursuing an interest and walking through open doors. Call it serendipity, if you will. One thing stands out about each step of the journey: it’s always been about serving others and making a meaningful impact on their financial lives.
The Beginning
After going to both the University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University East to study business, general studies, and social and behavioral sciences, I started working at a small community bank as a loan officer. It didn’t take long for me to notice that the bank’s small trust department didn’t have a succession plan for the only trust officer, who was nearing retirement. I decided to pursue this future opportunity by going through Cannon Financial Institute's Personal Trust School and was promoted to trust officer, while also becoming licensed as a financial advisor.
Somehow I found myself working two full-time jobs in these capacities and gained a plethora of valuable experience encompassing many areas of personal finance. I began to develop a clear vision of how I wanted to serve my clients and the services that would be valuable to them as they worked toward their retirement goals. With this in mind, I founded an independent financial planning practice to achieve my twin goals of owning a business and creating a firm that always puts the clients’ interests first.
Fast-Forward to Today
Now, seven years later, I am president and senior financial planner at Pathway Financial Planning, where we focus on helping people transition to and live through retirement. I spend my days providing comprehensive financial planning services using our proprietary process, The Path to Purpose FORMula™, to help clients work through the challenges and opportunities they face so they can thoroughly prepare for their ideal version of retirement.
The Best Part
While every job has its ups and downs, I can say without any hesitation, I wholeheartedly love what I get to do each and every day. There’s just nothing more fulfilling than working one-on-one with people, getting to know them, understanding their life experiences, and having the privilege of helping them work toward achieving their goals. I love being their resource, helping them stay on track as they prepare for or enjoy their retirement, so they can focus on what matters most in their lives. When it comes down to it, I don’t go to work for a paycheck. I do what I do because I truly care about the clients I serve and believe in the value our services add to their quality of life.
Can I Help You?
Now that you’ve heard my story, I’d love the chance to get to know you. If you think our firm’s services would be a good fit for your financial needs, schedule a no-obligation 30-minute consultation today by reaching out to us at 765-698-5121 or info@pathwayplanners.com. I can’t wait to hear from you!
About Ben
Ben Harvey is president and senior financial planner at Pathway Financial Planning, Inc., an independent, comprehensive financial planning firm that prioritizes the client, each and every time. Ben spends his days staying on top of what’s going on in his clients lives, coordinating the financial planning process, helping people identify their goals, and evaluating whether they are on track. He designs and implements customized strategies all as part of the proprietary process, The Path to Purpose FORMula™. Ben has 15 years of experience in the financial industry, including years as a loan officer, trust officer, and financial advisor, and provides a unique skill set of business management, retail lending, financial estate planning, comprehensive financial planning, and wealth management.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, Mandy, and their children, Cooper and Claire. They are active in their church, and especially love traveling, hosting friends and family, going to amateur sporting events (especially high school basketball and swimming), and experiencing different cultures. On occasion, you can find Ben playing golf, sometimes in amateur tournaments, which he credits for teaching him patience. He will also tackle the occasional home improvement project, read non-fiction, and watch documentaries. Through experience and “honey-do lists,” Ben has learned to never start a project he’s not ready to finish. To learn more about Ben, connect with him on LinkedIn.