Wealth Management About Us Video

Personal Financial Guidance for Meaningful Living

Client: Pinnacle Wealth Strategies
Industry: Finance
Video Type: About Us
Messaging Type: Scripted

About This Video Project

In this heartfelt video, Craig Hassel, the founder of Pinnacle Wealth Strategies, shares his personal journey into the world of financial advising. He reflects on his working-class upbringing on Long Island, where lessons in hard work and resilience were instilled in him by his father. Inspired by the profound impact of a financial advisor during a challenging time in his family's life, Craig transitioned from a corporate career to dedicate himself to helping others achieve financial peace of mind.

Throughout this candid narrative, Craig recounts pivotal moments that shaped his career, including the devastating loss of his father and the wake-up call after September 11. These experiences fueled his commitment to being present for his family and clients, ensuring their financial legacies are not only protected but cherished.

At Pinnacle Wealth Strategies, Craig focuses on comprehensive, individualized planning for families, helping them navigate the complexities of retirement, estate planning, and wealth management. If you're seeking a partner who truly understands the meaning behind financial security and can guide you in safeguarding what matters most, this video is an insightful introduction to the philosophy and dedication that drives Pinnacle Wealth Strategies.

#financialadvisor #PinnacleWealthStrategies #legacy #peaceofmind #resilience #wealth #clients #planning #protection #family

Transcription

Hi, I'm Craig Hassel, founder of Pinnacle Wealth Strategies. I want to share why I became a financial advisor and why this work is so personal to me. I grew up on Long Island in a working class family. My dad worked three jobs, days in computer sales, evenings at a retail store, and weekends doing whatever he could. He never complained, he just showed up. When I was 12, he helped me start a lawn mowing business. Five clients by the first week, 10 bucks a lawn. He used to say, if you want something, go earn it. That stuck with me. By college, I worked construction in the summers to pay my tuition. Dad helped early on, but I paid my way through the final two years. It was hard, but I wouldn't trade that experience. It shaped who I am. When I was 26, the first pivotal change came in my life. Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Just eight months later, he was gone. He was only 52. After the funeral, my mom sat me down and said, I need help. She had no idea where they stood financially. She still had a mortgage, a child at home. She was scared and completely overwhelmed. That's when a financial advisor stepped in. He didn't just move money around, he helped her breathe again. He gave her peace of mind, and at that moment, I knew I wanted to do that for other families. So I left the corporate auditing job I had taken after college and joined a small brokerage firm. I didn't want to travel the country inspecting businesses. I wanted to sit across the table from real people and make a real difference. Some of those clients I met back then, I still work with them today, more than 30 years later. Then came another turning point, September the 11th. Like many, I lost friends that day. Mother I knew died, leaving behind twins the same age as my son. It was a wake-up call. I realized I was working too much, so I started leaving the office earlier to coach my boys' basketball and baseball teams, sports I had never played, but I didn't want to miss the moments that mattered. My work has evolved over the past 30 years, from product sales to full-service financial retirement and estate planning. Today I focus on helping families grow and protect what they've built, while ensuring they can enjoy it too. I define wealth as being able to be present for the people who matter most. So in 2014, I launched Pinnacle Wealth Strategies to bring everything I've learned on the one roof, individualized, comprehensive planning to help our clients be fully present for their families while we safeguard their legacy. You've worked hard for what you've built. Now the questions are, how do you protect it? How do you make it last, not just for you, but for your children and grandchildren? That's the work we do. We help you prepare for the expected and protect against the unexpected, because I've lived through what happens when you don't. Dad taught me to hustle, to work for what I want to see happen. Mom taught me resilience, no matter what comes my way. And my clients have taught me that the most significant investment we can make is pursuing financial peace of mind. So if you're looking for someone who understands how much all this means, not just the money, but the meaning behind it, I'd be honored to walk that path with you.

To learn more: https://thepwsgroup.com/