Message from the CEO - Proud of the Business We Built

Hello FinGym Friends and Family,

Full disclosure, I hate themed marketing and email campaigns around celebrating diversity during a particular month. Why should we only celebrate Black people in February, women in March, Asian and Pacific Islanders in May and the Queer community in June? As a woman and the leader of a diverse team who serves a diverse client base, we celebrate and live diversity EVERY single day at Financial Gym, so I don’t feel particularly compelled to write messages aligned with these times as it feels akin to pandering to me. That being said, I was driving in my car last week thinking about a number of meetings I’ve had lately and couldn’t help but feel a tremendous amount of pride in the work my team has done, and I realized the irony is that it happens to also be Pride Month.

What meetings was I thinking about? Since the launch of Financial Gym’s investment advisory offering, I have had the great pleasure of speaking with hundreds of legacy and current Financial Gym coaching clients. This is the first time I’ve had this much direct contact with clients of the Gym since we had Gyms open (which has now been over four years), and every single meeting has given me more energy and more purpose around the mission I started 11 years ago. The meetings reminded me about the diverse clients we serve, what’s important to them and how we’ve provided a safe space for them to achieve their financial dreams or overcome their financial challenges, many of which are systemic.

My initial mission was simple: help people of all financial shapes and sizes get and stay financially healthy. I wanted to create a space where you were not valued by the assets or liabilities on your personal balance sheet but rather by the journey you wanted to go on. I learned early on in that process though that part of carrying out this mission would also entail creating a safe space for people to get financially healthy.

As I say all the time, money is a taboo subject and it’s typically fear and shame that prevent people from seeking assistance with their money challenges. When it comes to investment advice, people are forced to feel tremendous shame in even asking for help because most companies will not even speak with them unless they have over $100K in investable assets, and even then, many are meant to feel as though the advisor is doing them a favor because they still represent a small account as far as assets they would manage.

I am proud that at Financial Gym, we have no asset minimums, and not only that, we value and appreciate the journey it took for you to even have assets for us to manage on your behalf because we know that 56% of Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency with cash and 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Inflation in common household products like groceries, consumer goods and automobiles, coupled with high interest rates and the return of student loan debt payments have made monthly savings difficult. So, if you’re someone who’s been able to save and grow wealth during these challenging times, we celebrate your progress no matter what the size. 

I am proud that at Financial Gym, we know our clients build wealth for various reasons, not just to accumulate it in an effort to win some gold medal for wealth building. The large majority of our clients are looking to accumulate wealth so they can retire early and live a simpler lifestyle with fewer costs to maintain it. We have clients who are building wealth, hoping to be the first of their family to transfer wealth to the next generation. We have clients who are building wealth to start businesses, freeze their eggs, buy homes, have gender affirming surgeries, travel the world, foster fur babies, give back to underserved communities and so much more. I am filled with tremendous pride knowing that no one on my team will ever shame our members for how much wealth they’ve accumulated and how they want to spend it once they amass it. 

I am proud that while the wealth management industry continues to struggle deeply with attracting and maintaining a diverse workforce, Financial Gym represents an alternative for clients who are desperately looking for it. Because of the fact that we’ve had multiple transgender clients who are interested in opening up investment accounts with us, we had an internal meeting to figure out how to create a safe space for them such that if any Financial Gym employee engaged with them in the process, they wouldn’t ask unnecessary or perhaps uncomfortable questions around the different names on their previous accounts or legal documents. I was proud to be in the room for that meeting when I saw my employees’ empathy on display. It was a beautiful sight to behold knowing what ugly sentiments lie outside of our company. 

I lead a diverse team that serves a diverse population of people and I am proud of my team and the work we do every single day. We work together (and it’s an active process) to not only create a safe and positive space where all of our team can be their most authentic selves at work but also where our clients can be their most authentic selves. We always say we don’t care how you got here, but once you become a Financial Gym client, you will have a diverse and empathetic team of cheerleaders who care about getting you where you want to go. We don’t care what your destinations look like, as long as they speak to your soul and your unique journey. 

I can’t make many guarantees from this seat. I can’t guarantee performance returns. I can’t guarantee that our monthly rates will always remain this low. I can’t guarantee that a trainer you love will always be here. 

I CAN guarantee that as long as I am leading this company, Financial Gym will remain a diverse, inclusive, empathetic and compassionate financial services company that is committed to bringing financial wellness to this and future generations. I CAN guarantee that you will not only have a fiduciary to give you investment advice (via FG Advisory Services) but that the fiduciary will practice an even higher level of care: the B.F.F. (best financial friend) standard as we say internally. If you don’t believe me, you can check out the over 500 Trustpilot reviews our clients have shared with all similar stories to what I am guaranteeing you. 

It takes time, energy and focus to build and maintain a diverse team of people. I know we’re not going to get it “right” every day as we’re always constantly learning and growing, but we are a team of individuals who are committed to getting “better” every day, and we are committed to getting it “right” as a company because we see the value of a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and I am proud to lead this company because of this. I am sharing this now during Pride Month, but this should be considered an evergreen statement from me: one that applies not only this month or this day but EVERY single day here at Financial Gym.

Cheers!

Shannon McLay

Founder & CEO

The Financial Gym & FG Advisory Services

FG Advisory Services LLC ("The Financial Gym") is an SEC registered investment adviser. Additional services may be provided by The Financial Gym INC. FG Advisory Services and The Financial Gym INC are separate but affiliated companies. The Financial Gym’s investment advisory services are available only to residents of the United States. Nothing in this email should be considered an offer, recommendation, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell any security. The information provided herein is for informational and general educational purposes only and is not investment or financial advice. Additionally, The Financial Gym does not provide tax advice and investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisor.

All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money you invest, and past performance does not guarantee future performance. Any historical returns, expected returns, or probability projections are hypothetical in nature and may not reflect actual future performance. Brokerage services will be provided to The Financial Gym clients through Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, (“Fidelity”) SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC . Securities in your account protected up to $500,000. For details, please see www.sipc.org.

Please be advised that the investment advisory services and the securities offered: Are Not FDIC Insured; Are Not Bank Guaranteed; May Lose Value; Are Not Deposits; Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency; Are Not a Condition to Any Banking Service or Activity Any investment , trade-related or brokerage questions shall be communicated to advisory@fingyms.com.