Justin Curtis, LUTCF, ChFC, CLU

Helping Others Succeed

For this firm founder, people are where the greatest value lies.

By Jean Feingold

Justin Curtis, LUTCF, ChFC, CLU, formerly had what most would call a successful career. He worked for a large corporation and earned an excellent salary, a company car and generous fringe benefits. But this success came at a price. As a single person working more than 60 hours a week, he had no time for a family. “I wanted more than a paycheck,” he said. “I wanted purpose and the ability to build something, work for myself and enjoy the freedom of owning my own company.” In late 2007 he became a financial advisor like his father, working in the Nashville office of New York Life and finding the more balanced life he sought.

Those early years came during a difficult time for investors. Despite the troubled economy, Curtis did well in his new career because he learned the importance of keeping his clients informed and reassured. He is known for excelling under pressure, dealing with difficult life experiences and refusing to quit. His excellent results culminated in his being named New York Life’s Nashville Rookie of the Year in 2008.

That early recognition continues. Curtis has received numerous awards from New York Life based on high production and meeting sales goals. He was elected by his peers in 2010 to the New York Life Agents’ Advisory Council, one of only 18 working with headquarters personnel on improvements for the company and field force. In 2014 he qualified for New York Life’s Chairman’s Cabinet (Top 50 in the company), the company’s highest level.

A NAIFA member since 2009, Curtis, 36, was a Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) member from 2010 to 2013. He advanced to the MDRT’s Court of the Table during 2014 and 2015.

Starting his own firm

In 2010, Curtis and his father, Dan, founded Franklin, Tennessee-based Curtis Financial Group. Their vision was to operate a faith-based practice known for giving back. Their mantra was “Serving our Community, One Client at a Time.” “We always knew we wanted to do something different and unique,” Curtis said. “We wanted to be known as a practice that truly gives back to the community and has a vision to help others. I wanted our brand to be a name synonymous with giving back, bringing value to our clients as well as others we connect with. We wanted our clients to know that we use an unbiased, processdriven approach to help solve their unique financial challenges with creative strategies.”

“I learned that to be successful I had to learn from successful people,” Curtis recalled. “I gained a lot of wisdom from my father when I entered the business, but being young and headstrong, I didn’t always listen. I acquired a lot of knowledge about the art of conversation from him. Most importantly I knew I wouldn’t know everything right away, but I knew I could outwork everyone else. One thing that can’t be taught and doesn’t cost a dime is work ethic, and hard work coupled with refusing to quit helped me succeed when others failed.”

The firm works primarily with business owners and clients needing help with financial and estate planning. Some clients fit in both categories. “In the business arena we enjoy helping to bring clarity to sometimes complex business needs, from business benefits to succession planning,” Curtis said. “On the financial and estate planning side we help design a financial blueprint that will create a legacy for the next generation of the client’s family.”

Networking and referrals from existing clients are the cornerstone of Curtis Financial Group’s marketing methods. “By connecting people and businesses and focusing on helping them, we organically grow trust and build relationships, which allows us to be a valuable resource in the community,” Curtis noted. “We keep the focus on why we do what we do, which is giving back and helping others accomplish their goals. We don’t have to prospect, we just take care of our clients. I think that motivates them to help us grow.”

Giving back

For the past six years, the firm has sponsored the Curtis Financial Invitational charity golf tournament. Each year more than 100 golfers support the Second Base Foundation, a camp for youth and at-risk kids.

“We invite friends, clients, family and community leaders who participate as a great way to give back,” Curtis said. “We also use the tournament as a way to network and build new relationships.”

Curtis devotes time to improving the industry and the people in it. He belongs to two elite national study groups of top advisors, CPAs and attorneys who meet periodically to collaborate on changes in the industry and discuss and create new financial strategies. His mentoring, teaching and motivational speaking also help educate other advisors on how to build successful practices.

“I know every day is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around me!” Curtis said. He is living his dream of making memories with his wife, Heather, and daughters Madison, 13, McKinley, 5 and Chloe, 2 and running a successful financial advisory practice with his father. Today he is proudly serving his community one client at a time.

Curtis has the life he always wanted — having time to spend with his happy family and owning a firm that helps others achieve their financial dreams.