Early Years and Classes in Laborious Work
Dustin Stanley’s story begins in Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up in an in depth household that frolicked outside—boating, swimming, and path driving on dust bikes. His father was his first and most essential instructor.
“My dad was the most important mentor and educator I ever had,” Stanley recollects. “He taught me all the pieces—from the way to weld to trigonometry.”
As an adolescent, Dustin stood out in math and was recruited to hitch applications like NEAS (Nationwide Engineering Aptitude Search) and JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Expertise). He was additionally listed in Who’s Who and attracted curiosity from prime engineering faculties. However as a substitute of following that path, he stayed near household and joined their enterprise, Hytec.
Two Many years within the Household Enterprise
Stanley labored at Hytec for twenty-four years. He anticipated to retire there. When the enterprise closed, it was a turning level.
“I hated it,” he admits. “I wished to retire from there sometime. However when it closed, I discovered my excellent profession.”
That profession could be in finance. His math background and pure potential with numbers made the transition simpler, however it was his individuals abilities that formed the following chapter.
Discovering a Calling in Retirement Planning
In 2013, Dustin approached a buddy who ran a retirement planning agency and requested if he was hiring. He was. Stanley rapidly excelled.
“I liked it,” he says. “I really like assembly with individuals and love taking their monetary stresses away to allow them to give attention to the enjoyable issues they’ve at all times wished to do.”
Two years later, his boss informed him one thing that might change his life. “He mentioned his mentor informed him, ‘Make Dustin a associate or he’ll be your greatest competitor.’”
Quickly after, Stanley grew to become a associate at Strategic Wealth Designers, which on the time managed round $20 million.
Constructing a Nationwide Model
Over the following decade, Stanley helped develop the agency right into a nationwide presence. By 2021, it had crossed the $1 billion mark in property below administration. By 2025, the quantity was nearer to $3 billion.
Alongside the best way, he co-wrote a retirement planning workshop that unfold throughout universities nationwide. The workshop aimed to assist households keep away from frequent pitfalls and put together for his or her futures with confidence.
“I measure success now by how many individuals I will help,” he explains.
The expansion wasn’t simply in numbers. Stanley’s profile rose with common TV appearances and Sunday morning reveals the place he broke down monetary subjects in easy, on a regular basis language.
Founding Stanley Wealth and Retirement
Ultimately, Stanley determined to create one thing of his personal. He launched Stanley Wealth and Retirement, based mostly in Sarasota, Florida. His imaginative and prescient was clear: a client-first strategy targeted on readability, training, and technique.
“Most advisors suppose one answer works for everybody,” he says. “That isn’t true. You’ve got to have the ability to hear, perceive, and create one thing for every household.”
His agency rapidly grew to become identified for its give attention to retirees and people nearing retirement. Matters like earnings planning, taxes, Social Safety, property planning, and healthcare grew to become the core of his work. However the fashion remained easy.
“I’ll by no means get to a degree that I really feel ‘I made it,’” he says. “Success isn’t owned—it’s only rented. And the hire is due each single week, month, and 12 months.”
Entrepreneurial Spirit Past Finance
Stanley’s drive extends past wealth administration. He has invested in hospitality and healthcare, together with an upscale Tampa nightclub and a medical hashish dispensary in Louisville. His strategy throughout industries is constant: construct manufacturers that ship excellence.
He additionally offers again. Together with his spouse Kristin, he volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse, a charity that helps households after main loss.
A Philosophy of Laborious Work
Stanley’s philosophy is formed by his upbringing. Obstacles, he says, are met with persistence.
“Anytime I’ve obstacles in my manner or seemingly no manner round one thing, I simply put my head down and work that a lot more durable,” he says. “My dad taught me we simply work more durable—it doesn’t matter what it takes.”
Each December, he sits down to jot down his targets for the 12 months forward. Some are skilled, some private, some non secular. He thinks in two- to three-year increments, believing that individuals can obtain extra in that point than they anticipate.
One lesson stands out for him: “It’s by no means pretty much as good because it appears and it’s by no means as dangerous because it appears. So maintain pushing.”
Legacy in Progress
In the present day, Dustin Stanley is acknowledged as one of many nation’s prime monetary advisors. He has guided 1000’s of individuals via retirement planning and constructed a agency devoted to creating the method much less aggravating.
However ask him about success, and he’ll inform you it’s not about rankings or numbers.
“I’ll by no means get to a degree that I really feel like I’ve made it,” he says. “I simply need to maintain turning into the perfect model of myself and assist as many individuals as I presumably can.”
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