I am a husband and a father, a basketball Coach and a financial advisor with Chesser Financial here in Champaign. Over the last seven years I was coaching basketball at Judah Christian School, but am looking forward to an opportunity at a middle school here in Champaign.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What inspired you or led you to your current career? | Right now I am a financial planner with Chesser Financial. My wife and I both struggled financially for many years, I tell people I have my Ph.D in D.U.M.B. But after that I started to really look at money and debt and turned our financial lives around. I worked at Salt and Light doing financial coaching for about three years when Jamie Chesser asked me to come on board. During that transition, I fell in love with the process that we walk people through. Here at Chessor, we are here to educate our clients on how to build wealth, we do not advise. We focus on the big picture and look atevery part of their money life. |
| What is your favorite restaurant in Champaign-Urbana? | At the moment, Smokies BBQ in Savoy. We go there several times a month, it’s great food and a good family environment. I always order the beef brisket or pulled pork. |
| If you could travel any where in the world, where would it be and why? | I would go to the west edge of the Grand Canyon, Supi, Arizona. You park at the trailhead and travel 10 miles down into the canyon. While camping there, you can visit water falls and other amazing sights. I would travel in the summer, the weather there is blistering hot, but the water is ice cold. It’s such a contrast. It by far is the most beautiful part of the country. |
| If you were giving a speech to a group of people what advice would you give? | Don’t follow the crowd. |
| What is on your bucket list. | Running the Conrads downhill portion of the Ultra Marathon. The Conrads is worlds largest Ultra marathon ran every June from Durbin, South Africa to Pietermaritzburg. One year they run from Durbin up to Pietermartizburg and the next they run down. I ran the up race back in 2013 and would love to get back into shape to run it again. Age is catching up with me, but that is on my list. |
| What current or former business makes you nostalgic for Champaign-Urbana? | Hickory River in Urbana. When we moved here 25 years ago, Hickory River was this little restaurant and now is so much bigger. I remember going there with my family and just enjoying the family friendliness of Hickory River. |
| Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years? | Still working in the financial world. I love what I do. I think I will still be mentoring kids through coaching basketball. I believe that when you have the opportunity to coach, you’re influencing the next generation. I don’t know if I will stay in Illinois, just depends on the economic state that Illinois is in, the best part of my job, I can money is the same across the country. |
| What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? | I am a meteorologist by education, I got my master’s degree from U of I. As an undergrad and grad student, I did storm chasing. I am passionate about the weather. |
| What are three words that come to mind when you think about HOME? | Family. Friends. Faith |
| If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose; Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Trainer or Nanny? | Trainer and why? I struggle with making poor decision with eating. I need someone to bust my chops every single day by working out, it would be a huge benefit to me! |
