Brad Dantzler is all business when it comes to finances and the economy, and he immerses himself in civic organizations in the community. But the Winter Haven native has soft spots in his heart for family (of course), baseball ... and Lotto winners.
Name: Brad Dantzler
Age: 47
Family: Wife, Susan, of 20 years. Children L.B. (Little Brad), 18; Blake, 14.
Resident of: Winter Haven, lifetime native
Graduate of: University of Florida, 1985; B.A. economics, M.A., business administration
How long have you worked for Raymond James? I started in the (financial) business in 1994 with Edward Jones. I joined Raymond James four years ago, when they needed someone to open an office in East Polk County. I was the lucky guy.
What responsibilities does your job entail? A lot of this job is teaching folks. I make complicated financial concepts and investments easy for them to understand. We work on a one-on-one basis and advise our clients. We take our time because we want them to understand and establish specific, financial goals. So many times people try to do it on their own, but they drift away and loose focus. We help bring them back to focus. That keeps us busy, because people don't want to do it. They plan more for a vacation than they do for retirement.
What has been the toughest situation you have ever been faced with, in this profession? I take my job very seriously. I haven't slept very well for the past two years. The responsibility that people give me ... they count on me. In the 15 years I've been in this business, I've never been through and never want to do this again (downturn in the economy), but we sure learned a lot. Our firm didn't have sub-prime mortgages that sunk some of the other companies. We weren't perfect, but we avoided some of the problems some of the other companies had. We never did credit default swaps. There were some very complicated issues; just a different dynamic. We all dealt with the same market correction, but Raymond James was not dealing with the question of, "Will we be here tomorrow?"
How did you get through it? I play a lot of tennis. I read and meditate a lot, and time with my family has been a savior to me.
On the other side of the coin, what is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you during your career? I always tell my clients, "Remember, if you hit the Lotto, call me at home, 'cause we open the office late for Lotto winners." I got a phone call one night from one of my clients and he said, "You're not gonna believe this, but I just hit the Lotto!" I joke around with my clients, but this actually happened.
What contributions do you feel you have made to East Polk County? I'm the past president of the (Greater) Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce 2004, current president of the Winter Haven Library board of directors and have been for six years, president of the Girls Inc. from 2001-02. I was the treasurer before I became president of these and I look at budgets and financials, perhaps a little differently than other board members. I am also formerly an adjunct professor for PSC (Polk State College), teaching business ethics and investments, called "Stock Picking 101," from 2001-03, and also, "The Basics of Bonds." I am a 2007 graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership Polk County.
What do you like most about East Polk County? The lakes. I'm an avid fisherman. I love to water ski, too.
What are your personal goals? To get my kids through college. To get them educated and to be productive citizens. I coached my oldest son in baseball since he was 5, and now I just drove him to college in Sarasota on a baseball scholarship. That was a very surreal moment. My youngest son just started Winter Haven High School this year.
What are your professional goals? I'll work all my life as long as my health holds up, then I'll pass the business to my kids.
