We recently connected with Shinobu Hindert and have shared our conversation below.

Shinobu, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I spent over a decade of creating and managing complex financial plans, overseeing $350+ million in client assets. I taught over 500 live personal finance workshops and kept hearing the same message, “I wish somebody taught me this earlier”.

There’s a need for friendly, easy to digest financial education earlier on in life. I started Empowered Planning to simplify the complex world of finance. Schools don’t teach us this stuff and when we start working, our focus is on learning our craft, establishing ourselves in our careers. But if we don’t take care of ourselves now, nobody will be there with a blank check when we hit these important milestones.

Shinobu, 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?

I got into the financial industry straight out of college because I was fascinated and curious about how the stock market worked. I also wanted to be able to take care of myself financially and felt like I was staring into a black hole. I decided the best way for me to learn was to dive right into the industry as a career path.

I work with business owners to help them clarify their financial goals and objectives so they can simplify their lives. I teach them how to make educated, strategic and confident financial decisions. What sets me apart is my deep working knowledge of personal finance and my ability to apply this to how businesses can operate and scale.

I am most proud of my clients’ results. The women are work with are entrepreneurs who are paving the way for a new generation of women who want to raise children and keep their careers. Most of these women had to go out on their own so they could tailor their work life to fit their personal needs. Standing side by side with these women who are growing their businesses, increasing their revenue and profit margins, expand locations while also being present at home inspires me every day! I feel fortunate to be surrounded by these amazing women!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that it’s okay to be the squeaky wheel. Working for a large organization you have to follow the protocols but when you get into entrepreneurship there is no big brother creating structure and guidelines for you. Having to trust my gut, make the wrong decisions and learn from them continues to be a challenge for me. Trusting your gut as a business owner is so important because your intuition is guiding you to a place and taking a leap of faith can be critical t your success.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth. Initially I was focused on marketing efforts but as I started to gain clients, more clients came. I realized how valuable referrals can be especially when it comes to finances. Finances can still make us squirm a little. Opening up and getting real about your current picture and future goals can be intimidating. Finding someone you can trust and open up to feels a lot better when it’s a referral. So now I ask my existing clients and share when I am looking to expand and this has been amazing. I think I wasn’t giving myself enough credit and felt all this pressure to be marketing on social media when for my line of work it really comes from that personal touch.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.empoweredplanning.com
• Instagram: empowered_planning
• Linkedin: Shinobu Hindert

Image Credits:
Camryn Clair Photography