We recently connected with Angie Dumler and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Angie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents are immigrants and entrepreneurs. They came to the United States in 1983 seeking solace from an Apartheid torn nation in South Africa, and looking for a kinder, more accepting place to raise my brother and me. They were seeking the “American Dream,” and after many years of hard work, not fitting in, and struggling to get by, they found it. It was not luck, nor was it simply time, but rather dedication and commitment to building financial stability, and thus a sense of freedom for our family. They were busy, often distracted, and eventually divorced, but what they did right as parents was lead by example, teaching us to take risks, and fend for ourselves with integrity and perseverance.
This entrepreneurial spirit drove my brother and me to work hard, and eventually branch off from the corporate structure, and build our own investment firm. Our parents were kind and generous, but never spoiled us. I thank them for that.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started my career right out of college in the nonprofit world at a historic preservation organization in Boston. At 25 years old, I got married, moved to Atlanta, and made a career change, starting in the Financial Advisor Training Program at Morgan Stanley. I worked long hours, but managed to find balance as we started a family. My first daughter was born three years after our move to Atlanta, and my second daughter’s pregnancy will always be remembered as the time in which I was studying for, and obtained my Certified Financial Planner or CFP Designation. I might have been the only pregnant woman in the testing facility with what seemed like 90 percent men. I felt proud and strong.
Following an 11-year stint with Morgan Stanley in Atlanta, I shifted gears and co-founded the boutique firm Inlight Wealth Management, where I currently serve as its Chief Compliance Officer and Investment Advisor. The move to Inlight took place in October 2017 in partnership with my brother and another former Morgan Stanley colleague. The three of us had been working together at Morgan Stanley for more than a decade prior to launching Inlight. I knew it was somewhat risky leaving an established, household name to venture off on our own and essentially become a personal Chief Financial Officer for our clients. At the same time, I felt confident after building strong client relationships, that they would be enthusiastic about joining our new firm. Our firm now manages more than $350 million in assets for more than 100 clients. My responsibilities include client service, financial planning, compliance, and business development. As a small business owner, I wear many hats, and I have learned a great deal over the last five years as it pertains to human resources, day-to-day office management, compliance, and operations.
Many of our clients have been working with me and my partners for more than 16 years. This is an indicator of the loyalty, transparency and high level of service we are known for. It has helped them through many life transitions, including marriages, divorces, births of babies, college planning, estate settlement and the transition into retirement. I find great satisfaction in what I do from planning to investing to managing a business and to building and maintaining relationships I treasure. I am particularly proud of the fact me and my partners built a business largely through referrals and reputation, and as a result, spent little time marketing and selling. I intend to continue on the path of adding clients by referral and growing our business organically, led in part by asset growth. We anticipate hiring additional team members as the business grows, however we don’t want to sacrifice our deep commitment to providing exceptional, first class service. For me and my three partners, our clients are like family members, and we treat them as such.
I am consistently driven by achieving a work life balance and setting an example for my two daughters, showing them through hard work it is very possible to build a successful business and at the same time be an active participant in their lives and give back to their community in meaningful, significant ways.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for us has been friends and family of our current clients. We have built a business based on impeccable service, character, and integrity. Our clients, over time, have become our friends, and our family. When our clients refer us to the people they care about, it strengthens the core of our business. It gives us a stronger sense of duty and it perpetuates the solidity of our business and the relationships that we have worked so hard to build and maintain over the years.
How’d you meet your business partner?
My three business partners are my family, literally and figuratively. Ben and Brian are like brothers to me. I have known them both since I was in college, as they were friends/colleagues of my brother. My brother Jason and I have worked together since I started my career in finance. He is my mentor, my business partner, and my best friend. For many years, I was burdened with the sense that nepotism brought me my success in the financial business. It took me a long time to build confidence and independence, and realize that I had support and encouragement, and an incredible opportunity. My drive and commitment was not handed to me, however. I have worked hard and smart, and I have been a key player in building our incredible business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inlightwealth.com