At home, Surya’s mom also passed on valuable money lessons. He shared how his mother would give him money for school clothes, but instead of spending it all at the mall, he chose to buy the items he needed from a thrift store and save the rest of the cash.
"My mother has a sign that reads, 'I make myself rich by making my needs few.'"
This mindset also carried him through college. Surya attended university while working 40 hours a week and graduating with zero student debt—and with $50,000 saved in his bank account. By understanding the value of hard work and saving for the future, he was able to leave college with a comfortable cash cushion.
After graduation, he began his career working for one of the largest financial planning firms in the United States. Within his first year, he was recognized as a top advisor and planner, designating him within the "Circle of Success." As his success continued, he was asked to train and mentor new advisors to provide top-level advice and service to clients. However, Surya realized that he wanted to do more for his clients, but he had to branch out independently if he wanted to do anything on his terms.
This decision led to pulling out the lessons taught to him by his grandparents–and his mother. Surya and his wife worked together to plan his leap strategically. They reviewed their finances, set personal budgets to save money for the new business, and even worked with a financial planner to ensure they had the right plan in place to reach their future financial goals. Additionally, through this experience, he can lead his clients by example and help them navigate their path and achieve their financial goals and dreams.
Now, with over a decade of experience, Surya continues to run and manage his firm, Newport Wealth Advisors, and finally gets to provide clients with truly personalized, expert advice–the way he wants.
But his story doesn't end there because now he gets to pass down the money lessons he learned to his daughters. He wants them to understand the basic principles of saving and investing from a young age and carry those learnings forward so they too can be independent through financial freedom.
"Finances can provide you freedom. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it can provide you with options and freedom."
About The Human Advisor
Everyone has a story about what money means to them. When someone sits down in your office, it’s so much more than doing business. Your client comes to you with some of their core beliefs about success, identity, legacy, and relationship.
The Human Advisor Podcast is dedicated to changing the conversation from how big a financial advisor’s book of business is to how well they take care of their clients and actually help people. There’s a new breed of modern advisors who want to make a difference and do something meaningful. And in our series, we’re telling their stories. Watch more episodes.
