We were lucky to catch up with Warren Ganues recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Warren, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The story behind my mission isn’t just professional — it’s deeply personal. I didn’t wake up one day and decide I wanted to be a Financial Advisor, a mentor, or a speaker. Those roles were born out of a deeper call: to stand in the gap for people who were never given the tools to succeed — spiritually, financially, or emotionally.

I grew up watching how a lack of access and education could rob entire communities of opportunity. I’ve seen firsthand how financial instability can tear families apart, how mentorship can change a young man’s life, and how clarity of calling can literally rewire a man’s destiny. But it wasn’t until I personally went through a season where I temporarily lost half of my hearing that I began to understand just how much God was using pain to redirect me toward purpose.

That season led to one of the most powerful messages I now deliver — *“Would You Give Up Half Your Hearing to Get Your Whole Calling?”* It wasn’t just a clever title; it was my reality. Through that experience, I gained the clarity I needed to see my mission: helping others — especially Black professionals, young men, and underserved families — hear more clearly when it comes to purpose, money, and legacy.

Through my work with **Edward Jones**, I serve as a Financial Advisor focused on empowering Black professionals and entrepreneurs in San Antonio to build wealth on their terms. With **Leaders in Training (LIT)**, where I serve as Director of Business Development, we mentor the next generation of young men — teaching them life skills, leadership, and character. At **GodChasers Community Church**, I use my gifts in media to amplify the message of hope and faith. And through my role with **At Her Defense**, I even find a unique kind of peace helping others protect what matters most.

At the core of all this is a mission to bridge gaps — whether it’s between young men and mentors, families and financial security, or pain and purpose. I’m not here to hand out advice from some ivory tower. I’m here because I *lived* it — and because I know what it feels like to wonder if your story has value. My mission is to make sure people know it does. And to help them write the next chapter with boldness, wisdom, and vision.

Warren, 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?

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.**

My name is **Warren Ganues**, and I wear a few hats — but they all revolve around one core mission: building people. I’m a “” Financial and Wealth Advisor with Edward Jones**, **Director of Business Development with Leaders in Training (LIT)**, a **content creator and storyteller**, and a **firearms instructor** with a heart for protection and peace. I’m also a husband, father, and a man of faith who believes legacy isn’t just what you leave behind — it’s what you live with intention every day.

I got into financial advising not because I grew up around wealth — but because I grew up around the *need* for it. I saw how many Black families, entrepreneurs, and professionals were building empires without blueprints. That hit me deeply. So I decided to become someone who could *translate* the language of wealth in a way that was accessible, authentic, and relevant to my community.

In my role with **Edward Jones**, I help clients create personalized investment strategies, retirement plans, and legacy-building portfolios that align with their values and goals. I serve around 60 clients today with a multi- million in assets under management, but my goal is not just growth — it’s *impact*. I want my clients to not only *have* wealth but to *understand* it, *use* it, and *pass it on*.

Outside of finance, I’m the **Director of Business Development** with **Leaders in Training (LIT)** — an organization dedicated to mentoring young men of color. Every Saturday, we provide hands-on mentorship, leadership development, and real-life skills. I capture that energy through photos and video, sharing it online to inspire others and grow our reach — especially as we expand into new communities like Killeen and Copperas Cove.

Spiritually, I serve as the **Editing Content Manager** for **GodChasers Community Church**, making sure our messages reach beyond the building and into the hearts of people scrolling through social media, searching for hope.

Even my role as a **Firearms Instructor with At Her Defense** is about empowerment — teaching people how to feel confident, prepared, and protected in a world that too often makes us feel unsafe.

What sets me apart? I don’t just *work* in these fields. I *live* them. I bring lived experience, authenticity, and spiritual grounding into everything I do. Whether I’m helping a client prepare for retirement, a young man prepare for manhood, or a woman prepare to defend herself — my approach is the same: intentional, rooted, and real.

What I’m most proud of? Honestly, it’s not the numbers or titles. It’s the moments. The father who tells me his son finally opened up after LIT. The client who sends me a picture of their first home. The woman who leaves a class saying, “I finally feel safe.” Those moments are the fruit of years of obedience and sacrifice — and they remind me that I’m doing exactly what I was called to do.

If you’re just getting to know me, know this: I’m here to help you *build*. Your wealth. Your story. Your legacy. And I’ll meet you where you are — with the tools, the truth, and the testimony to help you go where you’re meant to be.

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

I believe my reputation was built on *presence*, *consistency*, and *authenticity*. I didn’t walk into any room trying to be the loudest or the flashiest — I focused on showing up, serving well, and letting my results and relationships speak for themselves.

In the financial world, especially when you’re working with Black professionals and entrepreneurs, *trust* is everything. People want to know that you see them — not just as clients, but as whole human beings with stories, goals, and struggles. I made it a point to never give cookie-cutter advice. I take time to really listen, ask the right questions, and then build financial strategies that align with each person’s values and vision.

In mentorship with **Leaders in Training**, my reputation grew because I *didn’t disappear.* Rain or shine, I’m there. On Saturdays. At the events. Behind the camera. Helping young men grow into who God called them to be. I don’t show up just when it’s convenient — I show up when it counts. That consistency creates trust, and trust builds reputation.

And across every lane I serve in — whether it’s ministry, mentorship, money, or even firearms training — I stay rooted in my faith. That integrity is what people feel when they interact with me. I’m the same person in every room. That doesn’t mean I’m perfect — it means I’m real. And that realness has opened doors and built relationships I’m truly grateful for.

If I had to sum it up: *I built my reputation by being present when people needed me most — not just professionally, but personally. And I think that made all the difference.*

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

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that *hard work alone guarantees success*. For a long time, I believed that if I just pushed harder, worked longer, and stayed committed, the doors would open and the results would speak for themselves. But life — and leadership — taught me otherwise.

There was a season where I was doing *everything*. I was mentoring, building my financial practice, serving at church, taking care of my family, and pouring into every area with passion. But despite all that work, I wasn’t seeing the level of growth I expected. I started to feel stretched, frustrated, and even a little bitter — like the fruit wasn’t matching the faith or the effort.

That’s when I had to confront a hard truth: *grind without strategy is just exhaustion*. I had to unlearn the mindset that effort was enough and start learning how to work with *leverage*, *systems*, and *alignment*. I had to learn that saying “yes” to everything wasn’t leadership — it was fear of missing out. I had to trust that *rest is a weapon*, that *clarity creates momentum*, and that *delegation is not weakness — it’s wisdom*.

This shift changed everything for me — especially in how I lead within **Leaders in Training**, grow my book of business with **Edward Jones**, and show up as a husband and father. Now, I focus on impact over activity, purpose over pressure, and legacy over the illusion of control.

The backstory? God used a season of burnout to reveal that I was trying to do what only He could do — multiply. My job is to plant, water, and stay faithful. His job is the growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/warren-ganues
• Instagram: @warren_o.g
• Facebook: Warren Ganues
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-ganues/