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

Robyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I didn’t have lofty dreams as a kid, it felt like those dreams were meant for the other kids. I just knew I wasn’t going to be poor. I started off in marketing and made the jump into television – I love communications and it felt right. I started off as a beat videographer on a local channel and eventually worked my way up to TV producing, reporting, and co-anchoring an investment television show. As a producer and co-anchor, I would interview some of the top financial minds in the country and every week would broadcast this advice to people, but I always wondered, did people take it? The advice, did they use it to become wealthy? I was literally speaking into a black box and I knew that if I could just speak to these people, the ones that needed help with their money, like I wish I and my family did that I could make a difference. I wanted to secure my own financial future. I wanted to make more money. This is when I decided to become a financial advisor and eventually went on to open my own wealth management firm and now, a television personality and keynote speaker.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am recognized as a leading financial thought leader and a highly sought-after keynote speaker. I share my inspirational message about achieving financial independence, creating wealth, and understanding the psychology of money with organizations, conferences, and media audiences worldwide. My talks are infused with unique and inspiring personal and professional stories that drive audiences to aspire to greater heights. I offer straight talk and insights rooted in solid research, which empowers and motivates organizations to strive for excellence. In my memorable presentations, I provide guidance to help organizations harness their resources for significant growth in a dynamic global landscape. Those who attend my talks walk away with practical strategies to enhance their wealth within their organizations and personal lives.

As a keynote speaker, television personality, and award winning wealth consultant, my goal is to empower individuals. I believe that with appropriate guidance, a strong mindset, and the right habits, anyone can transform their financial future.

With a career spanning nearly two decades, my expertise covers roles such as a respected financial journalist, a financial advisor, and the founder of Castlemark Wealth Management, a celebrated financial advisory firm with a focus on female clients, to becoming an in-demand keynote speaker. As a financial journalist and speaker, I’ve made regular appearances as a financial expert across various platforms, including on CTV’s Your Morning and The Social, BNN Bloomberg, and in publications like The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and Yahoo Finance.

I hold the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designations, and I’m a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI®). My work has been recognized with several accolades, such as the Wealth Professional 5-Star Women in Wealth Award, the Top Teams Award, and the IFSE Financial Literacy Champion Excellence Award.

I am also passionate about promoting financial literacy among the youth, which I actively pursue through my work with Junior Achievement.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My childhood was marked not by games or play-dates, but by a deep-seated awareness of our financial constraints. Every resonating sound of the neighborhood ice cream truck wasn’t a call to joy, but a reminder of what we couldn’t afford. The chants of my classmates painting me as the “poor” kid were more than just words; they shaped my relationship with money, self-worth, and aspiration.

The sting of poverty is not just about empty pockets; it’s about missed opportunities, hushed dreams, and often, the overwhelming feeling of not being enough. But adversity, while a tough teacher, imparted to me invaluable lessons. It fueled a determination to change not just my financial narrative but also to understand the deep emotional ties we all have with money.

Today, as a leading money habits and financial expert, I stand not just as a testament to what’s possible when one is determined to overcome poverty but as a beacon of hope for others. Through keynote stages, television broadcasts, and wealth consultancy, I aim to empower. To show that with the right guidance, mindset, and, most importantly, habits, we can rewrite our financial destinies.

I believe that wealth is within reach for all of us, if we focus on our behaviors first.

Conversations about M&A are often focused on multibillion dollar transactions – but M&A can be an important part of a small or medium business owner’s journey. We’d love to hear about your experience with selling businesses.

Every challenge faced, every goal achieved, and every milestone celebrated over the last twelve years has led me here.

My firm Castlemark Wealth Management Inc. was acquired by Croft Financial Group in March, 2023. Joining forces with Croft Financial Group is a testament to our shared values and vision for the future of wealth management. Together, we will achieve greater synergy and offer our clients an unparalleled financial experience. I remain as the founder and continue to manage clients as a wealth consultant.

Being a woman in the financial business hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it. Founding a business is a monumental achievement, but guiding it to a point where it’s attractive for acquisition and then making the bold move to sell at it’s peak? That’s where the true power lies. It’s essential to recognize that businesses, at their core, are assets. They can and should be optimized for profitability. The power lies in understanding that selling a business isn’t the end of a dream but rather the culmination of one.

In my role as an advisor, I’ve always aimed to be a beacon of wisdom, guiding others with the insights I’ve gathered over the years. But there’s a unique depth and authenticity in not just dispensing advice but also living by it.

Following my own guidance isn’t about self-validation; it’s about genuine belief. For me, it’s the true essence of “practice what you preach.” When I actively implement the strategies I recommend to others, it’s a testament to my unwavering faith in the knowledge I share and the value it holds.

To those I counsel, seeing me live by the advice I provide offers a tangible reassurance. It stands as proof of my commitment to the craft, showcasing that the strategies I advocate for are not just theoretical but have been tested and proven in my own life.

By embracing my own advice, I aim to be a living example of its power. It’s my way of deepening trust, building genuine rapport, and sharing in a mutual journey of growth and discovery with those I guide.

After all, advice, in its truest form, is not just about what we say, but how we act upon it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://robynthompson.money/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robyn.thompson.money/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robyn.thompson.money/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-thompson-cfp-cim-fcsi-4244a92/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/robynthompsonmoney https://medium.com/@robyn_40640