COVER STORY | YOUNG ADVISORS TO WATCH
Travis Gatzemeier , CFP
Founder / Kinetix Financial Planning / Flower Mound , Texas ( Dallas-Fort Worth )
IN MAY 2019 , WHEN TRAVIS GATZemeier launched Kinetix Financial Planning , a fee-only RIA , he had a vision to “ build something targeted toward younger professionals like myself ,” he says . He was just 33 at the time ( he ’ s now 38 ), and had eight years of experience in financial services . “ The industry was built on working with retirees , the target client at my previous firm ,” he explained .
He saw an opportunity to fill a niche , an unmet need to service clients who “ may not have the minimum assets to work with traditional advisors ,” he says . “ I wanted to create a place where they could get the advice they deserve , whether or not they have a large investment portfolio .”
In the years since , though , his firm has evolved to specialize in entrepreneurs and other business owners who are compensated with equity . He calls this , “ an area where very few financial advisory firms have in-depth knowledge .”
But he also simply enjoys working with small-business people . “ As a business owner myself , I ’ m walking the same path as those I ’ m working with .” After every client meeting , he says , clients have a knack for getting right to work on whatever action steps are discussed . “ Business owners have a tendency to be driven and get things done .”
More than that , he contends that business owners have many interests and opportunities that employees might not — such as setting up a retirement plan , building wealth outside the business , making sure they have proper insurance and looking at tax strategies so Uncle Sam takes a smaller bite of their profits .
That last item he calls “ the most fun part .” He clearly adores what he does .
Kinetix prides itself on “ dynamic ” financial planning . With young and midcareer entrepreneurs and business owners , he says , something changes every single year and sometimes more rapidly than that .
Clients choose between two different payment options at his firm : an annual retainer , paid monthly , and a more traditional percentage of assets under management . There are never commissions on transactions or extra fees for product sales .
Gatzemeier chuckles that he ’ s not naturally mathematically inclined . “ I didn ’ t care much for traditional math classes and numbers [ in school ], which surprises most people ,” he says . “ But as soon as I had a class on investments and how you can make money with money , that piqued my interest .”
Ginnie Baker , MS , CFP
Partner / Beaird Harris / Dallas
GINNIE BAKER WAS A JUNIOR and business major at Texas State University . She knew she wanted to do something business-related upon graduation , but she was unsure of what that would be . A college friend recommended she take the introductory course in financial planning while she was in business school , and after that she pursued a master ’ s degree in financial planning at the university .
“ Had someone not recommended this course to me , I don ’ t know that I would have found financial planning ,” Baker says . “ It ’ s really that missing piece I was looking for ,” she adds , noting that she was drawn to the profession because it “ pertains to everybody and every aspect of life ,” and she is interested in helping people to organize it all .
After working at two other firms , in one role as an associate planner in Virginia , and another role in Texas , she joined Beaird Harris Wealth as a financial planner in 2015 . She ’ s been a partner since 2020 .
Baker is part of a team of seven advisors managing $ 1.6 billion in assets . Her clients are primarily young professionals in the healthcare industry , many of whom have a lot of debt , but who are also starting out with a high income .
A millennial advisor , Baker says , “ I feel that I have a good group around me that have been a champion and a cheerleader for me . And what I have found is this profession is really good at lifting up and encouraging young professionals .”
But Baker says it ’ s not always smooth sailing for the younger generation entering the business , in part because of the stigmas they must bear . “ It ’ s challenging to prove yourself , to show that you know what you ’ re talking about and to show your worth .”
Her advice to those entering the business : “ Learn as much as you can from a few different people ,” and “ shadow people to see how things are done in the real world .” Also , she says , ask questions .
She also has chaired the mentorship program for the alumni association board at her alma mater . The industry needs “ more established advisors to take young people under their wings ” and provide them with growth opportunities , she says .
MAY 2024 | FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINE | 39