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Meet Chris Hilyer of Heritage Wealth Solutions in North Central Phoenix

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Hilyer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Most people find their passion in life through experiences or introductions to people that provide new outlooks. I am no different, except my passion was born from a family tragedy. With the passing of my father in 2006, I quickly learned how important is it to have a plan in place, or more importantly, the devastation when there is no plan at all. I had always shown a strong aptitude in math related subjects. In 6th grade, I tested into high school level courses, which put me ahead on a track for graduation. At 16, as a junior in high school, I was enrolled college courses and graduated with my first college degree at 18. I thought that employers would line up to hire a young, educated and hungry college graduate, but I was wrong. I graduated with a technology degree into the dot com crash. For those that don’t know, technology positions began heavy outsourcing overseas and there were no entry level positions available to someone with no experience. With a rebounding economy, I went back to school and once I completed my undergraduate in business, I sought a position in finance. Then there was another hurdle; the great recession. The company I  was working for eliminated the majority of their management and salaried positions, so I was on the hunt again. I would next find an accounting position. Hindsight would show me this was a stepping off point for my career, but at the time, the position just didn’t fill the void. I think like many other people, I was searching for a career that I was passionate about and one that felt fulfilling. But up to that point in my life, I had always been subject to another persons decision to cut back, or eliminate a position. I wanted full control of my career and it forced me into entrepreneurship. I was finally working hard with purpose and felt fulfilled. Since entering the financial services industry, I have made it my personal mission to consult with individuals, families and businesses to help them prepare for their futures and help protect their goals. My passion may stem from a tragedy, but my mission is to help others avoid them.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting started in an industry that is client centric and heavily weighted and reliant on trust is very difficult when no one knows who you are. I relocated to Arizona at the same time I was starting in the industry, which meant I didn’t have any connections, personal or professional, to lean on for networking and business purposes. I had to get as active in the community as possible to create those relationships and build the trust that would become the backbone of my business. The relationships I have with my clients are everything, but it took time and a lot of effort to earn the trust that has helped propel my success.

Please tell us about Heritage Wealth Solutions.
Heritage Wealth Solutions is a full service financial services firm. From working with individuals just starting to save or invest, retirement plans for businesses and business owners and up to complicated retirement income distribution strategies or asset transition plans. What I have become known for is pension and social security specialization. Early in my career, I took it upon myself to become as informed as possible on pension plans to provide planning to those people that are fortunate enough to still be receiving pension benefits. In addition, I hold a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) certification to provide comprehensive social security evaluations as part of a retirement plan. I found there is a major lack of education on both of these subjects and I think it is incredibly important to educate people on these large, and most often irreversible, financial decisions. What I am most proud of as a company are the relationships with clients. I love seeing goals attained and being a part of the moments like major birthdays, graduations or retirements. The fact that I am invited to these events proves I am as important to them as they are to me. Knowing that Heritage Wealth Solutions can change the course of a person, family or business and have more financial success because of our advice, that is what makes the hard work worth it!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
It is hard to pinpoint a single favorite moment, but I can think of a moment that, in hindsight, says a lot about what kind of adult I grew up to become. When I was in elementary school, I went to an after-school daycare around the corner from my house. The person that ran the daycare had several children, most of which were older than me. I had a bicycle at home with training wheels at this point, but I would watch the older kids ride their bikes around after school without training wheels and I wanted to do it too. So, when the kids were off their bikes I would attempt to teach myself to ride without the support system of training wheels. I remember the day, when my dad loaded up my bike in his Jeep and took me to my elementary school to teach me how to ride a bike. After a short pep talk about how I could do it, he briskly walked along side my bike, stabilizing me by holding the seat. But when he let go, I was off with no problems. I can still vaguely remember him talking to my mom later that day about how he couldn’t believe that I already knew how to ride and he didn’t have to teach me. I have reflected on this memory many times as an adult, when I see the “older kids” doing something I want to do, and I take it upon myself to learn it. I know I will fall a few times, but I also know I can pick myself up and try again. Self-reliance was an important lesson to learn as a child and has proved priceless as a business owner.

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