FP Wealth Management Inc., located at 770 N. Cotner Blvd, Suite 411, offers a wide variety of services designed to help their clients improve their financial lives. Bob FitzSimmons is a Certified Financial Planner with FP Wealth Management Inc.
Tell us a little about your business. – We are a personal financial services firm with a team of five professionals who offer our clients a broad range of financial services in a consultative and truly client-centered way. We don’t presuppose in advance what services are appropriate or suitable. We are focused on helping solve and enhance our clients’ personal financial goals and objectives.
How did you get started in the business? – I enrolled in the two-year home study program of the College of Financial Planning in 1986 and attended a weekly study group organized at Farleigh Dickenson College in New Jersey. I also attended evening classes to help me pass the Series 7 FINRA securities exam required to offer various securities to potential clients. In 1988 I began on a part-time basis with New England Financial Advisors. And in 1990, after completing the CFP® certification program, I retired early (at age 50) from Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and moved back to Lincoln, NE as a full time CFP ® Professional.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Simply getting prospects aware, comfortable and confident in our advice in helping them to address their personal financial goals and objectives.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I served as the first CFP® professional from Nebraska on the national boards of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (1998-1999) and a founding board member of the Financial Planning Association (2000).
Tell us a little about your family. – My wife, Jan, and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last year. She retired a few years ago after a very successful career as a Registered Nurse. We have three very successful adult children and five adorable grandchildren.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Attending Northwestern University’s MBA program in 1965-66, following a three year tour of duty as an Air Force officer. After graduating with an MBA degree, I began a 24-year business career in product management for three Fortune 500 consumer products companies before I started my current personal financial services career in 1990.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – That I have mentored five LPS students since the start of the TeamMates mentoring program. I have also funded a TeamMates college scholarship since the start of the program by TeamMates of Lincoln.
What are you the most proud of? – Documenting where my ancestors came from and what they did after they arrived in the U.S. from Ireland and Scotland.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – According to the Gallup Strength Finders analysis, one of my five personal strengths themes is “Learner.”
What talent would you most like to have? – Being able to sing professionally.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Coaching a major sport at the college level.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly.
What is your favorite movie? – Braveheart
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Olive Garden
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Call FP Wealth Management at (402) 465-5678, email me at bob@fpwmfirm.com, or visit www.fpwmfirm.com.
*Bob FitzSimmons is securities licensed through Investacorp, Inc. A registered broker/dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC.