Planner is one of the best
Toowoomba financial adviser in nation’s top 50
TOOWOOMBA financial planner Chris Black’s career in the field began at the industry’s most trying time - the global financial crisis.
On the back of being named one of Australia’s 50 most influential financial planners, Mr Black reflected on the road that got him, and his company Fortress Financial Solutions, where they are today. Mr Black traced the root of his inspiration back to a sunny day in Toowoomba 14 years ago. It was after eight hours spent on a Toowoomba cricket oval playing at first slip when his interest was first sparked.
“Honestly my passion came from playing cricket at 18 when our captain was talking about selling shares on the field and I thought it sounded sexy,” he recalled.
Fast forward to 2008 and 22year-old Chris Black enters an industry in complete meltdown.
Businesses were struggling and families lost their homes.
It was a time, he said, that shaped his current company’s people first ethos.
“I started planning during the height of the global financial crisis and it was definitely a very thorough apprenticeship.
“The global financial crisis was a baptism of fire but definitely a good learning experience.
“We have the opportunity to change people’s lives and there are not many careers where you can do that.”
Having made his way back to what he calls his “beautiful” hometown after a stint in London, Mr Black decided it was time to take his career to the next level.
‘‘ WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE PEOPLES’ LIVES. CHRIS BLACK
Going out on his own would be his biggest challenge to date.
But the past five years of hard work that went into building up Fortress Financial have paid off.
“I had a few job interviews around but I wanted to do things differently,” he said.
“I want to be people’s financial coach and mentor because some companies lose sight of the people.
“We don’t have any aspirations to be Toowoomba’s biggest financial planning firms and we aren’t in it for the awards but we do want to be the best.”