Amanda Black

I attribute much of my success to taking control of my own future and having the courage to build something entirely from the ground up. When I recognized the opportunity to create my own business, I took the leap. I left my job, went home, and told my husband I was starting my own company.

That first year required determination, resilience, and an incredible amount of hard work. I focused on building relationships, earning clients’ trust, and learning every aspect of the business as I went. What makes it especially rewarding is knowing that no one handed me a head start or paved the way for me—I created this through persistence, discipline, and belief in myself.

Even now, nearly nine years later, I continue to learn and grow every day. I’ve always believed that some of the best lessons come through experience—being in the work, solving challenges, and adapting in real time.

One of the greatest gifts entrepreneurship has given me is flexibility. Working from home and managing my own schedule allowed me to be present for the people who mattered most. It gave me the ability to spend valuable time with my son as he was growing up, to be by my mother’s side every day while she was in hospice, to care for my stepfather after a serious injury, and to stay home for five weeks when my dog underwent surgery. Success means more when it also allows you to show up for the people you love.

My work ethic has always been rooted in responsiveness, consistency, and commitment. Whether it’s a weekday, weekend, or while traveling, I believe opportunities are created by showing up and being available when others need you.

Building a successful business from a small town in Indiana while partnering with major firms across the country has been one of my proudest accomplishments. As a woman in the financial services and recruiting industries—fields traditionally dominated by men—I take great pride in creating my own path and proving that success can be built anywhere through hard work, determination, and vision.

The best career advice I ever received came from the gentleman who hired me at the financial firm where I began my career, and to this day we remain very close. Shortly after he hired me, I asked why he chose me when I had no background in the financial industry, especially when another candidate had the education and experience for the role.

His response was something I have never forgotten: “I can teach you anything, but I can’t teach personality.”

Those words meant so much to me. They gave me confidence and helped me realize that I was capable of succeeding, even without prior industry experience. He became an incredible mentor, teaching me the business, supporting my growth, and helping me build the foundation for my career.

That advice has stayed with me because it reinforced an important truth: who you are as a person matters just as much—if not more—than what you already know. Technical skills can be taught, but qualities like character, work ethic, drive, and the ability to connect with others are what truly set people apart and create lasting success.

Network as much as you can, stay persistent, and don’t be afraid to jump in and learn by doing—this industry rewards those who take initiative. Use your personality and confidence to open doors, because opportunities often come from the connections you’re willing to make.

One of the biggest challenges in my field has been building a career as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Financial services has long been led primarily by men, so establishing myself within that space—while recruiting and working with advisors across the country every day—has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Starting my own business as a woman and creating success on my own terms in this environment is something I take great pride in. It has required confidence, resilience, and the willingness to continually prove myself through results and relationships.

What makes it even more meaningful is being able to partner with major firms on a national level while operating from a small town in Indiana. Knowing that I have built something impactful from where I started is a reminder that success is not defined by geography or circumstance, but by determination, vision, and persistence.

The values that matter most to me are flexibility, family, continuous growth, and being present for the people I care about. One of the main reasons I started my own business was to create a life that allowed me to spend as much time with my son as possible while also building something meaningful.

That flexibility has given me the opportunity to be there during life’s most important moments. It allowed me to spend precious time with my mother each day while she was in hospice before she passed away, to honor a promise I made to her by helping care for my stepfather after he suffered a serious injury, and to stay home for several weeks caring for my dog after surgery. To many people he is a pet, but to our family he is like a child. Those experiences reinforced for me that true success is not only professional achievement, but having the freedom to show up for the people who need you most.

I also place a high value on continuous learning. I have always learned best through experience—by being immersed in the work, solving problems, and adapting in real time. Even nine years into running my business, I continue to learn something new every day. When I encounter unfamiliar concepts or industry terminology, I take the initiative to research, understand, and grow from it. That hands-on curiosity has been one of the keys to my success.

Responsiveness is another core value that defines how I work. Whether it is a weekday, weekend, or while traveling, I believe opportunities are built through consistency and reliability. If someone reaches out to me, I make it a priority to respond quickly because relationships and opportunities often come down to showing up when it matters most.