Evan Harp sat down with LPL’s Jesus Lopez to discuss his career as an advisor, the challenges he faced, and the upcoming Exchange conference.
Evan Harp: Tell us a little bit about your practice.
Jesus Lopez: I started in 2000 working for American Express financial advisors. That became Ameriprise. I was there for 18 years. In 2018, I moved my practice to LPL and I’ve been with LPL now for eight years. I’ve been providing clients with advice and financial solutions for 26 years.
Harp: Amazing! What is your investment philosophy?
Lopez: Because I’m independent, I’m able to be objective with all the solutions that I provide to my clients. It’s all about what the clients need. At LPL, we are able to be objective in our recommendations and the advice we provide to our clients. If a client needs tax free income, we are able to provide them with TBills and Munis. If they want equity exposure that pays dividends we can do that as well. It’s all about the client’s objective and goals.
Harp: That makes a lot of sense. Find the right tool for the right person based on the situation.
Lopez: I tell clients all the time, listen, we all have access to this chocolate factory. It all depends which chocolate is the right one for you, you know?
Harp: [Laughs] Pivoting slightly, what’s the biggest challenge you had to overcome and how did you do it?
Lopez: The biggest challenge is really people thinking that because I have an accent, I’m not smart enough. People underestimate my intelligence many times because I wasn’t born and raised in this country. I was born and raised in Cuba. I came here in 1993. A lot of people underestimate the intelligence that an immigrant can have. However, immigrants have been building this country for 250 years.
People have actually asked me, “How did you get into financial services?” because they think, in their mind, I shouldn’t be where I am. I shouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. I don’t let it bother me. I just know that it’s there, and I had to overcome that several times in my career.
Harp: You’ve been doing it now for over 25 years; you’re certainly proving them wrong every day, which is great.
Lopez: And that is the best way to prove to anyone wrong. The best response is showing them that you can do it and that you are successfully doing it.
Harp: Absolutely! Let’s talk talk about the Exchange conference.
Lopez: I love this time of the year, because I get to attend this conference. That is one of the best conferences. Honestly, it’s one of the best conference for any financial advisor that can go. I’ve been attending the Exchange conference for years.
Harp: What are you most looking forward to about the Exchange conference this year?
Lopez: The connections. It really comes down to all the connections that I’ve been able to make through the years attending the conference with other professionals in my industry. That networking, that connection with other people, meeting other professionals, it’s great.
Harp: One final question. Who is another advisor that inspires you?
Lopez: Initially, in my career, I had someone help me out. His name is Steve Gross. And he helped me a lot. He taught me not to let emotions get the best out of me. If you know what I mean.
Harp: Yeah.
Lopez: You know, he would say, “Don’t let that bother you.” I think he helped a lot for getting me to where I am today.
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