Episode 53:

Reinventing Yourself in the Face of Adversity, with Billy Douglass
Billy Douglass

With over 20 years of experience working in capital markets, Billy Douglass started in the financial services industry in 2007 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2011. His focus is on developing strategies for individuals, families, and businesses to help preserve and grow their wealth, investments and retirement plans. By gaining a deep understanding of each client's unique goals, needs and risk tolerance he is able to customize a financial strategy tailored specifically to that individual. Douglass graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992 with a BBA in Business. Prior to entering the financial services industry, he spent 15 years trading commodities at The Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Douglass lives in the town I grew up in, Lake Forest, Illinois, with his wife Sondra and four children, Jackson, Olivia, Halle and Ava. In his spare time, Douglass enjoys coaching youth basketball.

What you'll learn from this episode:

  • Billy Douglass’s journey into a career at Merill Lynch
  • The advantage of being an athlete in trading
  • The difficult transition from floor trading to electronic
  • How Billy Douglass reinvented himself to pursue a career in financial services
  • Douglass’s client niche and his role at ML
  • Transactional vs. transformational relationships
  • How Douglass’s coaching experience prepared him to be a financial advisor
  • Balancing compassion and competitivity in the financial services industry

Additional resources:

ebook

Growing Through (Not Just Going Through) Crisis

Why vulnerability can be a powerful leadership asset