We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Calamaras a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Sometimes I wish I had started a business much sooner – ideally while in college. I started smaller businesses after college, and my current endeavor in 2019. When I started my current venture I had been evaluating a shift in various corporate opportunities and business ideas.

If I had started the business earlier, I would be that much further along in its growth and impact. However, I learned a lot along the way through trial and error that has led me to some of the success we have had today.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My route to my current profession has been an interesting path. I started out completing a double Bachelors of Science in Civil and Architectural Engineering with a minor in Business Administration. Upon completing college I struggled to find a role with an engineering firm. Through relationships I was introduced to financial services where I took a role to learn about the industry and become a financial advisor. After some successes and failures I eventually ended up being recruited into sales at a PEO (outsourced HR company).

I learned a lot during my 4 years there as we grew a sales division from 10 to 120 people and scaled our revenue drastically. I found a lot of success in sales, client development, and leadership.. and had the opportunity to improve my overall leadership abilities in the many roles I held at the company.

However, a time came when that opportunity ended, and I found myself unsure of my next move. I was conflicted in moving to a roll in corporate that better aligned with my goals.. or to become a business owner. After months of analysis and debate I came to the conclusion that entrepreneurship was the route that really made my heart tick.

Today we run a boutique financial planning firm focused on helping multiple generations of families and businesses achieve their goals. We work side by side our clients to help champion their dreams, and protect their legacies.

As a firm we are dynamic, but in general we are helping our clients live and lead better lives because they know their financial futures are being stewarded by people who really care about them and their wellbeing.

We are proud to have have been ranked by a 3rd party in Forbes for 3 straight years as a Best-In-State Financial Security Professional, as well as ranked a Top Financial Planning firm in the Herald-Tribune and SRQ Magazine for the past few years. It just means we are making an impact in our community, and for our clients – and that’s what matters most.

If we can amplify the impact, legacies, happiness and wellbeing of our clients’ families – we’ve done our job.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We focus heavily on relationships, and building connections for others. It’s about putting others first. We spend time with a lot of potential clients to help share our beliefs and our process – not all of those conversations lead to business – but everyone leaves with some new perspective and knowledge.

We put a lot of emphasis on being a connector and a resource for others even when it has no benefit for us or our firm. If we identify an need, or see an opportunity to connect others where they may benefit from that connection we do our best to build that bridge.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

We lean heavily on building on our client relationships and providing immense value in all interactions. Our clients will often send us referrals, and connect us with their friends, and family because they value our expertise and know how much we care.

Additionally, we work on creating unique events where we can bring great people together and foster cross-connections and relationships. This is allowed us to meet new people, and all of our clients come from building a relationship first.

Although we love to grow, we are not focused at growing quantity over quality – its a balance, and we are really more interested in the quality of relationships and the work we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: michaelcalamaras.nm,.com
• Instagram: @mcal1
• Facebook: Michael Calamaras
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcalamaras
• Twitter: @mcalamaras
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@leaders-legends?si=_qgDocsvs5uUS0OA

Image Credits

KC Wood

I will update when I add more photos