Ian Yankwitt had an interest in investments from his college days and before being seduced by the law, figured he'd go to work in finance. When he finally did make that move, the two most important women in his life–his wife and his mother–had a great influence on his becoming a successful financial advisor.
His first clients were a couple who were friends of his parents. They recalled some of Yankwitt's "snide comments" about investing and asked his mother if she would ask him to meet with them. "My point of view was, I'm really happy with my day job, but when your mother asks you to do something you do it."
He met with the couple, looked at their financial picture and gave them some advice. They came back a short time later saying they understood everything he had told them, they just didn't want to do it themselves. Could they pay him to do it for them?