Focus on the path ahead
TIMES ARE VERY TOUGH IN MANY INDUSTRIES AND FINANCIAL ADVISER PETER HORSFIELD SAYS KEEPING A POSITIVE MINDSET CAN HELP PLOT A PATH THROUGH COVID-RELATED UNCERTAINTY, WRITES JACK LAWRIE
WE HAVE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO FOCUS AND DO THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL AND LET GO OF EVERYTHING OUT OF OUR CONTROL PETER HORSFIELD
WITH a recession looming and the finance industry at a turning point, a Cairns industry veteran has said he won’t quit when the chips are down.
Infocus Money Management senior financial adviser Peter Horsfield said everyone was doing it tough in the current economic crisi, and financial advisers were running for the door.
“I regularly hear stories of advisers who have taken their own lives, lost their homes, their livelihoods and families. At the same time of their career many others would consider thinking of retirement rather than going back to university or a change of career,” he said.
“We have made the conscious decision to focus and do the activities that are within our control and let go of everything out of our control.
“Doing so we are actually experiencing business growth, deeper relationships with our clients and our overall health and wellbeing has improved.
“Money always flows to where it’s most valued.
“When it comes to money and finances, emotions will always be heightened. Trust is the foundation of everything.
“So this journey is going to require everyone’s involvement to rebuild trust which includes the industry, the media, the public and the adviser.
Mr Horsfield is no stranger to tough times and took a long time to settle on his career.
Mr Horsfield grew up wanting to be a stockbroker, inspired by his uncle who worked as a broker and lived in the city, which all sounded very exciting to a young boy.
At 23-years-old he put his teaching studies on hold to travel the world. Two years later, he was 25, close to broke and with no career.
“Shift work in hospitality became my life from age 25 to 27 while I saved once again to scratch my itch for travel and adventure,” he said.
“However this time I saved first and only travelled on any additional savings I had.
“By 27-years-old, I was burnt out from working as a waiter, barman and washing pans and switched careers, eventually managing to land a job at the local bank as a teller.
“It was during this time I was introduced to a financial planner. I had found my calling and could learn about money and be a better manager of my own money and at the same time help others.”
Working with money has always been a calling to Mr Horsfield and he considers himself lucky to be able to work at it in Cairns, alongside
his wife of almost 20 years.
She was my senior at the bank I worked at when I started my career in financial planning and we are still working together in our own business today,” he said.
“The biggest buzz … is helping both clients and advisers to grow in self-confidence, let go of what we can’t control and be true to who they really are.
“It may sound cheesy but when others thank you for helping them make their life better, this is why I’m still so passionate about being a financial planner.”
Outside of working his dream job, Mr Horsfield enjoys the best benefits of living in Cairns, such as its proximity to south-east Asia and Japan.
“In the Japanese winter you will find me skiing what I believe is the best snow in the world,” he said.
“Even better is soaking in a hot onsen after a day of epic skiing, followed by swapping stories with friends over some beers and ramen. When in Cairns we love trekking and visiting ... the waterfalls, rainforests and volcanic lakes up on the Tablelands are incredible and so are the caves further west at Chillagoe.”