Guiding You on Your Financial Journey

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in finance but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lee Hyde, Founder of Shepherd Financial, located in Woodstock, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I have an independent financial planning firm. My clients are in their mid to late 30s to mid to late 40s. They're married with kids. They are in the busiest season of their life and looking for someone to help them get organized financially, make wise decisions, and guide them through whatever life throws at them.

My ultimate goal in working with my clients is to get them to a place of financial independence (some might say retirement) without looking back with any regret. That they wish they would have worked less and spent more time with their kids, dated their spouse more, traveled, been more generous, etc.

Tell us about yourself

I'm 37 years old. I'm married to my amazing wife, Susanne. We met in college and have been together for 17 years, married for 12. We have two awesome kids. Charlotte, our oldest, is going into 3rd grade. Noah, our youngest, is going into pre-k. I get to coach both of them in softball in baseball.

I'm part of a men's group that has been meeting regularly now for seven years. My wife and I lead a small group through our church. I also get to lead a small group of rising 3rd graders on Sunday mornings at our church. As you can probably tell, my family, faith, and relationships are most important to me. They, along with just a desire to help people, motivate me to do what I do.

They also all play a big role in why I decided to start my own firm. It was a decision I made prayerfully. I started this to allow me to have deeper relationships with my clients. I wanted to have the time freedom to be able to prioritize time with my family and important relationships in my life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have a hard time patting myself on the back. I don't feel I deserve it. I've had a lot of help from a lot of people. Too many to name them all. My wife and her support have been so helpful. I also want to mention Kyle on our team as well. I definitely wouldn't have been able to do this without him.

If I had to pick one thing, though, I would just say perseverance. Anyone who has started a business knows how hard it can be. I'm just going into year 3, and it's been harder than I expected.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For me, it's been building out the processes for every part of the business. I'm the type of person who likes to figure things out on the fly. Part of my growth has been around building (and continuing) to build out processes to improve the client's experience and make things easier for Kyle and me to work through on the backend.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Get good people who care about you and want you to succeed around you. It's hard. Those little words of encouragement mean a lot.
Have a plan, but be willing to adapt and make changes when necessary.
Keep grinding early on.

I'd recommend everyone take inventory of how they spend their time. We often overvalue money while undervaluing our time. Spend your time wisely on the things that matter most. Don't look back later in life and wish you'd have done things differently. Do them now!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://shepherdfinancialplanning.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdFinancialPlanning/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-hyde/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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