Derek Lenington, CFP®
Portland, OR
Garrett Member Since 2004

“I started my financial planning practice in 2004. I couldn’t have done it without the Garrett Planning Network. Its members serving as my business coach, offering expert opinions on products and procedures, but most of all providing a virtual professional peer group with whom I could discuss issues and ideas and to this day Garrett Planning Network members have always come through for me.

Financial planning represented a midlife career change. One that was prompted by a potentially terminal diagnosis that prompted many questions relating to my personal finances. I found it virtually impossible to get competent, professional advice without first discussing my investment portfolio and amount, and even then, I felt like the advice seemed limited in scope and motivated by a potential product sale. Ultimately, I was able to manage this illness and my personal finances, mostly through trial and error and my own research, but that experience left me with a real desire to use my time more productively assisting people who, like me, have important questions and could benefit greatly from financial assistance but lacked the access or know-how.

The Garrett Planning Network’s fee-only approach was--and is--an excellent fit for this type of need, but I’ve discovered the organization’s much more than either a ready-made business model or a nationally recognized referral source, though I believe these two benefits alone are invaluable. Garrett members are a uniquely qualified source of information on growing my business, addressing challenging compliance issues and just working more efficiently. As my business continues to evolve my concerns and questions change but I’ve found the membership to be more than sufficiently diverse to continue to offer me whatever advice I may need.

As a former corporate climber who is now a sole practitioner, I often sometimes miss that office camaraderie, but I find the frequent conference calls, often hosted by experts who work with Garrett members, numerous discussion groups and daily e-mail requests for assistance or a second opinion, are a great substitute. The Annual Retreats consistent discussions, not speeches, led by distinguished professionals from a variety of financial planning fields cover a wide variety of practice management topics. Attendance is not only included in the membership dues, which is a nice benefit, but a great way to put faces to names and voices and develop friendships with people across the country who are as excited about this profession as I continue to be.”

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