What did you want to be when you grew up? It’s an age old question and it can sometimes bring with it some rather interesting and creative answers. For one of our Financial Planners, Paul, he wanted to be a pro basketball player. Read on to find out how he went from playing basketball to helping members plan their financial future below. And why he loves it.
Thanks for chatting with us Paul! Let’s get to it. Tell me about your job.
I’ve been a Financial Planner at Coast Capital for the last nine years. From a member perspective, my role is to help our members plan for short and long-term goals and execute a plan to help them reach those goals.
What do you love about your job and working at Coast Capital?
What I love about working at Coast Capital is that it provides me with a great platform to engage and help a variety of different members. They range from those in the ‘spring’, to those in the ‘autumn’ of their lives. Each group has different needs and the variety keeps me engaged.
What part about it do you most enjoy?
I really enjoy working with members to learn about their personal goals and helping them make the most of their financial plans. There’s obviously more than one way to do it, but I do see some commonalities. At times, I feel like I’m an Anthropologist. Not only do I get to observe and listen, but I get to participate and make a difference through the advice I provide.
What’s been your career journey here at Coast Capital?
I joined the organization in 2007 as a Bank Teller. After about a year, I moved into my current position as a Financial Planner. There’s been a lot of positive change in my current position over the years that has kept me engaged. And there are things that I have yet to accomplish in my current position before considering my next move.
What was your dream job when you were a kid?
Well I dreamed of playing power forward for the Chicago Bulls. I gave it up for a career in banking after figuring out I wouldn’t grow to 6’10″. The unique perks and benefits that Coast Capital offers like staff loans are an amazing consolation prize for the millions of dollars I gave up not playing for the Bulls.
Can you share the best day or memory at work?
What happens at Help Headquarters, stays at Help Headquarters!
What would you tell someone who is thinking about applying for a job at Coast Capital?
This is an incredible organization that makes many of its strategic decisions based on the well-being of its employees and collective credit union members. If you’re not afraid of hard work, there are plenty of opportunities to advance your career.
How did you start working at Coast Capital?
About a year from graduating university, I knew I wanted to work at a financial institution. I had some experience banking with both a chartered bank and a credit union. So I interviewed a few friends who worked for Coast Capital about their experiences here. They had very positive things to say and I decided to take it a step further and open a bank account. I was very impressed by the on boarding experience and immediately knew that this organization was something I wanted to be a part of when I graduated. Fortunately, I had a friend who put me in contact with HR and here I am 10 years later!
What do you like doing when you’re not at work?
I like to chill and watch Netflix on weeknights. There’s so much great content on there and I can always find something that fits my mood. On weekends, I often find myself making a trip to a bookstore on South Granville. It’s got three things I love: books, coffee and home décor.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
“The Undoing Project” by Michael Lewis is the most recent book I’ve read. If you’re into the topic of behavioral finance, it’s a fantastic read. My favorite book is “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck. It’s had a profound impact on how I view life, love and spiritual matters.
Interested in doing what Paul does to help members? Check out our job opportunities and learn more about our culture at Coast Capital.
