Meet Jordan Grzesczyk, CFP® | Financial Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Grzesczyk, CFP® and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
The end goal is to transcend all limitations of current financial services and actually help improve the lives of the millions of people who aren’t being helped. I hope to further bring financial education to students, be a company paid-employee benefit to help workers retire on track, and break down the barriers to low cost, high quality financial guidance. COVID brought a lot of insight into the state of financial preparedness for most people. Studies have shown that over 50% of Americans currently don’t even have adequate savings to cover emergencies. We all hope to never face hardships but the reality is that we need to be ready. When I am out, the only time I hear about money is when things are going good but never when things are going bad. For some reason it’s gotten to the point where people don’t feel comfortable talking about money struggles. I don’t agree with that, you should be able to confide in others to get their advice. On the other hand, if you really care about someone you should help them get to their goals and even hold them accountable to it. These views are the foundation of my practice Transverse Wealth Solutions, where I am able to develop financial plans for my clients and work side by side with them to implement changes, and hold them accountable to reaching their goals. The motivation to wake up everyday and pursue this seemingly impossible vision comes from the feedback I get from my clients now. From the emotional meetings to the most common feedback of “I wish I met you sooner”, I feel like I am on the right track.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am originally from Connecticut. For those who can relate, I grew up being pulled in different directions. School was a priority so I studied hard and focused on excelling in the classroom. Family was important, especially when my parents separated, so I spent a lot of time being the best support system I could. A social life was of course another commitment including sports, friends, and volunteering in the community. All while trying to figure out the path I wanted to take and how I was going to get there. Like many people at the age of 18; I didn’t have a firm grasp of what I wanted to spend the next 30+ years of my life doing. So I followed the guidance of some of my friends’ parents and decided to pursue becoming a Doctor. It took me 4 years to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Biological Sciences but it only took me half that time to realize that I had a different calling. My inspiration began to transition from helping people with their physical health to helping people with their financial health. Looking back at it, I believe this passion was ignited by listening to my friends talk about their job offers and the corresponding financial decisions they’ll have to make as well as the overwhelming struggles my family was going through at the time. I left the University of Connecticut with a second major of Economics and even started a student organization focused on helping myself and my peers learn more about personal finance. After graduation, I spent the first 7 years of my career helping successful families navigate their finances and plan for their future. I worked for companies like Morgan Stanley and Raymond James as I continued to expand on my knowledge, skills, and experience. Attaining the CFP® certification and becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner was one of my most proud accomplishments during those years. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my work, my true passion for financial planning shined through the brightest when I was having conversations with family and friends about what mattered most to them. The more of these conversations I had, the more I became aware of the fact that many of the people around me had a limited number of options for objective financial guidance; especially compared to the quality of advice available to higher net worth individuals. But why? Why would people like my own mother, who financially struggled at times as a single mom of two, not have similar access to advice and guidance from an experienced professional?

Enter Transverse Wealth Solutions. After reflecting on my childhood, my school years, and my professional career; I knew I wanted to make a bigger impact on this world. Today, my Santa Monica based financial planning practice, Transverse Wealth Solutions, is focused on helping people of all walks of life achieve their goals, dreams, and aspirations. Unlike traditional financial services, we don’t care how much money people have; we care about providing financial guidance to the people that the industry tends to leave out. The people that can benefit from help the most. People just like my mother.

As I wake up to another sunny day in Los Angeles, I feel incredibly grateful for all the amazing friends, family, and clients that have impacted me throughout my life. And I am so proud that I am able to work side by side with people from all walks of life to help them each step of the way on the path towards their goals. Starting my practice, Transverse Wealth Solutions, is a direct representation of what I have learned throughout my life and of who I am today.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fortunately, I have had a lot of visitors over the past few years so I’ll answer this with my typical tour guide itinerary. In my opinion, the beach is the first stop. Santa Monica State beach, Zuma beach, and Venice beach are some of my favorites. The beach trip usually includes some frisbee, surfing, and body-surfing (my personal favorite). Renting some kayaks to explore the marina is another favorite of mine. If my friends and family are looking for a little more exercise, I like to take them on a picturesque hike through Topanga Canyon or overlooking the ocean from the peak of Point Dume. Once we have all worked up an appetite, it’s time for the easiest part of my responsibilities as a host, finding some food. Coming from New York City, I have to admit the bar is set pretty high when it comes to bars and restaurants. However, the more time I spend exploring Los Angeles, the more amazing restaurants and cultural experiences I find. If Italian food is the mood, I like to take them to Colapasta. If they want a fun, social experience we go to Toca Madera. If they can’t decide, it’s Smorgasburg or the 626 Night Market. With any of the other empty spaces in the schedule, I like to fill them with events and experiences like catching a sporting event or checking out a comedy club. Although cliché, my out of town visitors enjoy all of the typical attractions including the Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory at night, and driving along the PCH under the SoCal sun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
With all of the support and love I have felt from my family, friends, and clients; it is very difficult to try and narrow it down. I would have to say that my mother deserves the recognition the most. Throughout my life, my mother has gone above and beyond to always put her children first. Even when she was going through her own struggles, she stood by my side as the greatest support system I could ever ask for. Whether it was moving to New York City, relocating across the country to Los Angeles, or starting my own business; she was there to guide me through my journey with care, love, and support. She is the most street smart person I have ever met and has more friends than anyone else I know. Her desire to lend a helping hand to anyone that needs it has served as an inspiration to me. She treats everyone equally, she has a heart of gold, and tries her best with everything she does. ” You remind me of your mother ” is one of the most amazing compliments I can hear. The world would be a better place with more people like her and she deserves so much credit for the man I have become.

The other Shoutout would be for my clients. It’s never easy to start a business from scratch, and it’s even harder when that business is built on trust between myself and people who may be facing financial challenges. Without my clients and their trust, I wouldn’t have an outlet for my passion of helping people. They have welcomed me into their lives and shared some of their greatest aspirations as well as their biggest concerns. For that, I am extremely grateful for all of the amazing clients I am able to speak with each and every month.

Website: https://transversewealth.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-grzesczyk-cfp%C2%AE-29893681/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TransverseWS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TransverseWealthSolutions