Breaking free from the corporate grind to build a business on your own terms requires both vision and grit. In this episode of Stir, Aginto’s Chris Williams sits down with Charles Bryant—independent financial planner and founder of Bryant Wealth Strategies—to explore how he’s crafted his practice and life by his own rules. Over six years in Sarasota, Charles has turned paradise into a “gold mine” for wealth management, proving that success follows those who dare to chart their own course.
From Corporate Advisor to Independent Architect
“At 39, I control my own story and destiny,” Charles begins. After years at banks and major wire houses—where quotas and shareholders took precedence over clients—he went fully independent in 2016. “I no longer wanted conflicts of interest,” he explains. Today, every recommendation he makes is solely for the benefit of individuals, families, and small businesses, not a distant corporate bottom line.
Sarasota: Lifestyle and Opportunity
Choosing Sarasota was as much about lifestyle as it was about market potential. “This place is paradise,” Charles says, noting the region’s high per-capita income—second in Florida only to Palm Beach County. While his social life paused, his career soared. Here, he found clients who valued personalized guidance and appreciated his commitment to “tell them live what I’d do for my own family.”
Shepherding Clients Through Long-Term Planning
Charles helps clients define and achieve goals—buying homes, funding education, planning retirement—by combining tailored financial planning with active portfolio management. “In corporate roles, my loyalties went to shareholders. Now I look you in the face and say every strategy is for you.” As a fee-based advisor, his income tracks client assets under management, aligning his incentives with positive client outcomes.
Community at the Core
Believing that “if you give to the community, the community gives back,” Charles invests time on nonprofit boards like Take Stock in Children, mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and sponsors local youth programs. He credits early supporters—some who remain clients today—with propelling his firm’s growth. “I wouldn’t be where I am without their trust,” he reflects.
Mastering Market Volatility with Calm
Having weathered past market downturns (2011 and 2015), Charles sees today’s volatility not as a crisis but as an expected challenge. He coaches clients to maintain perspective: “If you’re 20 years from retirement, why act overly conservative now?” His temperament—unshakeable focus and clear-headed decision-making—sets him apart. “When stress hits, mistakes happen. I never want that on my watch.”
Defining Success on Personal Terms
Six years in, Charles measures success not just by assets managed but by peace of mind—for himself and his clients. He recalls the night he clicked “submit” on his business registration: “That was the scariest—and most liberating—moment of my life.” Today, he continues setting his own rules and remains committed to honesty, humility, and perseverance.
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Breaking free from the corporate grind to build a business on your own terms requires both vision and grit. In this episode of Stir, Aginto’s Chris Williams sits down with Charles Bryant—independent financial planner and founder of Bryant Wealth Strategies—to explore how he’s crafted his practice and life by his own rules. Over six years in Sarasota, Charles has turned paradise into a “gold mine” for wealth management, proving that success follows those who dare to chart their own course.
From Corporate Advisor to Independent Architect
“At 39, I control my own story and destiny,” Charles begins. After years at banks and major wire houses—where quotas and shareholders took precedence over clients—he went fully independent in 2016. “I no longer wanted conflicts of interest,” he explains. Today, every recommendation he makes is solely for the benefit of individuals, families, and small businesses, not a distant corporate bottom line.
Sarasota: Lifestyle and Opportunity
Choosing Sarasota was as much about lifestyle as it was about market potential. “This place is paradise,” Charles says, noting the region’s high per-capita income—second in Florida only to Palm Beach County. While his social life paused, his career soared. Here, he found clients who valued personalized guidance and appreciated his commitment to “tell them live what I’d do for my own family.”
Shepherding Clients Through Long-Term Planning
Charles helps clients define and achieve goals—buying homes, funding education, planning retirement—by combining tailored financial planning with active portfolio management. “In corporate roles, my loyalties went to shareholders. Now I look you in the face and say every strategy is for you.” As a fee-based advisor, his income tracks client assets under management, aligning his incentives with positive client outcomes.
Community at the Core
Believing that “if you give to the community, the community gives back,” Charles invests time on nonprofit boards like Take Stock in Children, mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and sponsors local youth programs. He credits early supporters—some who remain clients today—with propelling his firm’s growth. “I wouldn’t be where I am without their trust,” he reflects.
Mastering Market Volatility with Calm
Having weathered past market downturns (2011 and 2015), Charles sees today’s volatility not as a crisis but as an expected challenge. He coaches clients to maintain perspective: “If you’re 20 years from retirement, why act overly conservative now?” His temperament—unshakeable focus and clear-headed decision-making—sets him apart. “When stress hits, mistakes happen. I never want that on my watch.”
Defining Success on Personal Terms
Six years in, Charles measures success not just by assets managed but by peace of mind—for himself and his clients. He recalls the night he clicked “submit” on his business registration: “That was the scariest—and most liberating—moment of my life.” Today, he continues setting his own rules and remains committed to honesty, humility, and perseverance.
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