Many people mentally separate the arts from the corporate world, but the transferable talents of performers go a long way in traditional business environments. Performers are not afraid of public speaking or being in front of an audience. They work hard to build confidence and strong communication skills to resonate with various audiences. Performers think quickly on their feet and improvise when something goes wrong, adhering to the mentality “the show must go on” despite unexpected roadblocks.

When Andrew Evans earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts, he soon realized that his skillset also positioned him well as a businessman. After graduating, Andrew worked at companies like Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, and TAG Advisors, before becoming the CEO of Rossby Financial in May 2009.

In this episode, Andrew speaks to Rebekah and Mac about his transition from theater to finance, staying creative in financial settings, and building a professional community no matter where you are located. 

Key Takeaways

• [01:07 ] - An introduction to Andrew Evans.


• [02:58 ] - How Andrew transitioned from theater to finance.


• [09:19 ] - How does creativity fit into Andrew’s work life?


• [11:37 ] - What community of professionals is most helpful to Andrew?


• [15:08 ] - Andrew’s advice for anyone looking for a community.


• [19:40 ] - Which story about a compliance professional is real?


• [23:45 ] - One compliance challenge Andrew faces.


• [29:49 ] - The best way to get in touch with Andrew.

Quotes

[04:54 ] - “[Business] is a bit of a show. You need to know the script. You gotta know what you're talking about. You gotta know the product. Then you perform, you talk.” ~ Andrew Evans

[15:11 ] - “No matter what town you live in or where you are, there's probably an association. There are undoubtedly connections with the FPA, NAIFA chapter, or Society of Financial Service Professionals that you absolutely should get involved with and you should go be a part of.” ~ Andrew Evans

[24:13 ] - “I took a lot of time doing due diligence and running over different programs before I selected Smartria, because one human can't do everything. No one can do everything. You need good, solid partners.” ~ Andrew Evans

Links 

• Andrew J. Evans on LinkedIn


• Rossby Financial


• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts


• Financial Planning Association


• Society of Financial Service Professionals


• NAIFA

Connect with our hosts

• Smartria


• Mac on LinkedIn


• Rebekah on LinkedIn

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts


• Spotify


• Google Podcasts

Learn more about Smartria

Creativity, Community, and Compliance is brought to you by Smartria, an award-winning compliance management platform for compliance consulting firms and RIA networks. We excel at making the complex and frustrating world of compliance simple to manage and easy to understand. Want to get a behind-the-scenes tour and check it out? Reach out to us at hello@smartria.com and take a peek at our website, smartria.com.