How a Hot Rod Shop Taught Me Accountability
I’m a car guy. I love cars. My plan coming out of high school was to open up a hot rod shop. I had the opportunity in high school to work in one, and the owner did all the engine work for these vehicles, but I wanted to take it a step further. I was in a welding class, and I wanted to actually build out custom-made hot rods.
Working in that shop was where I really learned about responsibility. One lesson stands out. We were working on what I think was a ’67 Mustang, a beautiful car. The owner was planning to drive it to a show the next day, and we were just finishing putting it together. He had told her it would be available and that she could drive it down the highway to get to that show.
As we were putting it together, a washer went down the carburetor. It was an immediate, “oh no” moment. We shut the car down right away. Luckily, when we tore it apart that night and got down in there, it didn’t cause damage. We were so fortunate. But we took that engine completely apart that night and put it back together that night, because we had said that car would be ready. He was committed to following through. He took responsibility for honoring what he said he would do for that client.
That solidified something in my mind: this was hard, but responsibility meant following through.
Being Present When Times Are Difficult
I think about how that experience shaped me. When markets move up and down—sometimes sharply—I know how many calls and emails can come in. It might be easy to say, “Sorry, it’s 5 o’clock,” but that’s not how I operate. Being present is something ingrained in me. Appreciation for that goes back to my dad and the lessons he taught us. We take responsibility, and we’re there for people. It’s about the impact we can have, and if you’re not there during the hard times, you can’t have that impact.
We want to be side by side with our clients and assist them in ways that fit their situation.
Sometimes life hits hard. I’ve had clients call from the hospital. Those moments have nothing to do with a financial plan and everything to do with simply being there. That’s part of why I do what I do. At those moments, you forget finances and focus solely on the person in front of you.
I remember sitting down with a client who’d scheduled a meeting quickly. He told me, “My family doesn’t know yet, but I have cancer, and I’m going to pass away. I want to make sure I know you’ll be there for my family and that they’re going to be okay.” When you have that relationship—when someone trusts you at that level—it’s huge.
Serving Families Through Seasons of Life
We get to be part of both the best parts of people’s lives and the worst parts. We work with clients of every age, and with many older clients, death is something we encounter often. I frequently hear from the children of clients who say, “For years, my parents have been saying, ‘If something ever happens to me, go see RJ.’”
That trust has a deep impact on me. It matters to me to carry that trust well.
And something else I want people to understand: I don’t have a closet full of retirement plan A, B, C, D, E, or F to fit people into. I might have a binder, but there’s nothing pre-filled because every plan is unique to each family. Every family defines a prosperous family differently. In the book, I outline several aspects—financial, legacy-related, meaningful living—but in these conversations, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s there.
Learning Lessons and Burning Questions
And yes, I always go back to that ’67 Mustang. If I had been allowed to test drive it back then, it probably wouldn’t have been great for the client—I would have been pedal to the metal, seeing how much rubber I could burn.
In the book, I end every chapter with learning lessons and burning questions. I wanted this book to be an opportunity not just to learn but to reflect on your own situation. Applying the ideas is what matters. Those burning questions help you look at your own circumstances and ask how these concepts can help your family prosper.
One of the questions is, “What is something you took responsibility for that changed your life?” Questions like that help you think about what responsibility looks like in your story and how that shapes what you pass on.
I encourage readers to not only answer these questions but also share them with family—your kids, your spouse, anyone important in your life. Those stories become part of the legacy you’re leaving.
An Invitation to Reflect and Continue the Conversation
I want people to read Prosperous Family. You can get a copy at AProsperousFamily.com. Read it, learn from it, look at the learning lessons and burning questions, and take action where it fits. And when the time is right, reach out and start a conversation about how to think through what a prosperous family means for you.