{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Building Wealth for the LGBTQ+ Community with Laura J. LaTourette","description":"Brian Thompson chats with Laura J. LaTourette, CFP, the founder of Family Wealth Management Group. As a self-made entrepreneur, Laura has prioritized building her fee-only financial planning firm while living fully as her authentic self. Her comprehensive planning and wealth management approach demands the same kind of determination, self-reflection, and bold spirit from clients. On the episode, Laura shares strategies she\u2019s used to build her successful, long-standing firm and the lessons she wishes she had learned a little sooner in her entrepreneurial journey. She also discusses why now is the time to build wealth for the LGBTQ+ community and how being vocal and visible can inspire compassion. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses come from the heart. Laura defines a mission-driven business as one that comes from your heart and reflects who you are authentically as a person. Although she didn\u2019t define her financial planning firm as a mission-driven business at first, when she came out as a lesbian in 1994, Laura knew she wanted to help people like her. \u201cI worked with women in transition -- women through divorce or being widowed,\u201d Laura said. \u201cThen I also found my LGBTQ community needed help with understanding the language of financial planning, so I just kind of took off from there on an organic basis.\u201d Keep a firm line between advising and therapy. One of the benefits of being an entrepreneurial financial planner is the ability to show up authentically, which helps Laura build trust with clients and form real relationships. Laura is clear that working with her means a long-term commitment. \u201cIt\u2019s a long-term relationship,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a transactional situation.\u201d Having that type of client relationship requires both Laura and her clients to be vulnerable, and Laura will share part of her story to help her connect with clients. However, she is careful to make sure an appointment does not turn into a therapy session. \u201cIf they go so far that it seems like they\u2019re really giving me too much information, I do talk to them about financial therapists,\u201d she said. It\u2019s time to build wealth for the LGBTQ+ community. As a new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeps through the country, stoking fears that marriage equality might be the next right overruled by the Supreme Court, it\u2019s now a priority to create a \u201crainbow network\u201d that builds wealth and provides financial education for the LGBTQ+ community. \u201cWe\u2019ve got trans kids dying, and we\u2019ve got LGBT elders not able to find a safe place to live during their ending days, so we\u2019ve got trouble on both ends,\u201d Laura said. Laura called on the LGBTQ+ community and allies to become visible, vocal advocates on business boards and in places of power. Laura lives this advice by serving as an ambassador in the financial services industry and by sharing her perspective with clients who sometimes find it uncomfortable when she mentions her wife. \u201cThe more you make them uncomfortable, at some point, then they start getting comfortable,\u201d Laura said. \u201cThey may not be able to advocate for me yet, but I can at least bridge an opening of their heart.\u201d Resources + Links Family Wealth Management Group Laura\u2019s financial industry leadership: CFP Board Ambassadors, FPA PridePlanners Laura\u2019s Social Media: Twitter, LinkedIn Brian\u2019s Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook  About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast Brian Thompson, JD\/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit. On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.  ","author_name":"Mission Driven Business","author_url":"https:\/\/btfinancial.com\/podcast","html":"