Greg Trost: Achieving Growth Through Teamwork and Experiences

Entrepreneurs aren’t born — they’re often molded from their life experiences and influences. Greg Trost, founder of Trost Financial, experienced a few bumps on his road to independence before he landed at LPL Financial.

Earlier in his career, Trost ran a restaurant franchise where he hired around 250 employees to carry out a dream of freedom and self-reliance — but it came at the expense of more important things. “Eventually I sold it. I was working 100 hours a week, and I never saw my kids.”

He then bought a headhunting firm focused on executive recruiting for salespeople in the medical and technology industry. With this pivot, he was in a position to help people. And little did he know, this experience would give him the transferrable skills he’d need to build out the future of his dreams.

Discovering a passion to help others as a financial advisor

In 2001, around the time of 9/11, Trost saw an opportunity to help others in ways like never before. He officially entered the financial services industry, where he built a solid foundation of clientele and relationships, before joining LPL in 2018. His firm specializes in small business owners, including business succession, and both pre- and post-retirees. In five years, he saw 300% growth — with 22% year over year. And behind the curtain of his success, he discovered it’s the people around you who make all the difference.

In this video, Trost shares insights, tips, and the business tools he uses for success.

Philosophies for clients and his financial business

No successful entrepreneur gets by without some sort of unwavering philosophy helping them through each day. On the client side, Trost’s philosophy is for every client to feel like they're the only one he has. On the business side, his philosophy involves investing back in himself and his employees.

“The most rewarding part about being a financial advisor is seeing my clients be successful and watching my people grow,” said Trost. Recently, in just one year, his company added 26 households with over $25 million in new assets. “We achieved all this because of how we treat our clients and because of our hardworking team.”

Trost lives by the motto: “Successful staff, successful practice.” And, his number one tip for any financial advisor is to always invest back into your business. “If you want to grow, you have to invest.” He puts about 20% of his revenue back into his business for staffing, retreats, marketing, website design, and other everyday functions.

He also credits LPL for providing the support he needs to lead and guide his team to success.

"At LPL, the quality of people and the accessibility of tools whenever I need
something has been amazing."

Greg Trost, Trost Financial

Resources that support growth when you need them

Another part of running a thriving business involves taking advantage of available tools and services that can elevate your practice. “As I was constantly expanding and achieving all this growth, there were some things I just didn't have time to deal with,” Trost explained. “CFO Solutions provided me the opportunity to look at my numbers, analyze my books, and operate my client segmentation. I learned how I could be more efficient and profitable to get the most out of my business financially.” CFO Solutions can be a strategic partner to help advisors reach new levels by developing and executing plans that align with their goals to optimize, grow, or transform their practice.

For Trost, the future looks bright. And he believes there’s one core principle that will keep both his business and team on the right track for years to come — investing in his people.

“If you’re not making the impact that you like, use the resources that you have. Get a business coach. Invest in your people, invest in their knowledge, and you’ll see growth in your practice,” he said. “Work on more planning, more understanding your clients and what they need, and be a good listener. People will come to you.”

Featured in the video

Greg Trost, Founder

• Trost Financial
• 5 years with LPL
• Business Model: Corporate RIA