Stephen J. Goehl is the President and Founder of Goehl Financial Services in Geneva, Illinois. He brings 42 years of financial industry experience to the company. During that time, Goehl has provided valuable financial expertise to thousands of families and individuals. His outstanding passion and work ethic have set him apart from his fellow professionals and contributed to the success of Goehl Financial Services.
Stephen Goehl is proud to be a Top of the Table Qualifier for the Million Dollar Round Table, which is comprised of the top 1% of all financial advisors worldwide. He has served on the advisory board of a preeminent insurance company and was a platform speaker at five different national sales conventions. Goehl is a member of the Geneva, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce, and has been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) for 42 years.
While earning his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, Mr. Goehl was co-captain of the NIU football team, where he still holds a record for five rushing touchdowns in a single game.
In addition, Stephen Goehl holds a Chartered Financial Consultant and a Chartered Life Underwriter Degree from the American College, as well as a Certified Senior Advisor degree. Goehl Financial Services enjoys an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
During his free time, Goehl can be found golfing and traveling with Carol, his wife of 48 years. They particularly like traveling to visit their three children and six grandchildren.
How did you get started in this business?
A friend who was already in the business told me he believed I would be a good fit. After giving the matter some thought, I took the exams, passed them, and jumped right in. Before long, I was on my way to launching Goehl Financial Services.
How do you make money?
I make money by helping people protect and save their lifetime earnings. This includes their retirement funds, their emergency savings, and their CDs. It’s my job, and the job of Goehl Financial Services, to protect clients from any market losses.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Goehl Financial Services was profitable within six months. I run a tight ship, so we had no issues with quickly becoming profitable.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work?
You know, I didn’t have those doubts. I attribute that optimism to my athletic background. Playing football, I learned if you keep getting up every day ready to work hard, set goals, and stay focused on achieving those goals, those goals become attainable. I also had wonderful support at home from my wife and family. We just plowed through each day, and I never had any doubts that Goehl Financial Services would make it.
How did you get your first customer?
I made a list of friends, family members, and neighbors. Back then, we just called people on the phone and said, “Hey, I have some thoughts about how you can protect your money. Can I come over, so we can sit down and talk about it?” Most of them said yes since we knew each other well, and many of us had grown up in the same town. After that, I started asking for referrals and Goehl Financial Services began to grow.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
We’ve been holding dinner seminars for the last 15 years. We invite people to a seminar at a restaurant, and we present our information to them. After the seminar, we buy them dinner and then we walk around, talk to people, and ask if anyone would like to visit with us to discuss how Goehl Financial Services can help them protect their money. That’s been a great, highly effective marketing approach for us.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
One of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make has been where to hold the dinner seminars. We have to decide who to invite, which areas we should approach, and so on. We rotate among four different restaurants in four different areas in our Chicagoland area, and we need to pick which area is best for us at a given time.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Well, I had a paper route and I mowed lawns. I also have a real passion for the business I said, my athletic background gave me the ability to stay focused, but I think my work ethic may play an even bigger role. I’ve always had good, solid work habits. As a young child, so that helps me stay focused, too.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I think there have been a couple of most satisfying moments. I’ve been able to earn some trips that were rewarded for my sales activity at Goehl Financial Services, so my wife and I have been able to travel to some exotic places that we may not have been able to go to otherwise. I’ve also been able to take my whole family on some great vacations. We live a pretty comfortable life based on what we have been able to accomplish.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I’m excited about what we have been able to accomplish. I think Goehl Financial Services will continue to be a great business. We have a plan in place with the dinner seminars that will help us reach more people, so we will be able to help them and protect their money from market losses. It has been very satisfying, and I don’t see it slowing down at all. If anything, Goehl Financial Services has been busier than we ever have been before.
What business books have inspired you?
I don’t have a single favorite business book. I read a lot of business books, trade magazines, and The Wall Street Journal. I keep up with what’s going on and what’s new in the business world and the investment world.
What is a recent purchase you have made that has helped with your business?
We’ve bought new computers, which I think was a great purchase. We’ve upgraded our hardware. Goehl Financial Services now has a quicker, bigger, stronger, and more secure system. We think that was a wise move for us.
What qualities set Goehl Financial Services apart?
We have provided valuable financial advice to thousands of families and individuals. We have been able to help a lot of people over the last 42 years. I have a passion for the business. I have a work ethic for the business. I think those qualities set me–and Goehl Financial Services–apart.