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Why I Joined Farm Bureau: Meet Wealth Management Veteran Marty Rapp

For Marty Rapp, Farm Bureau Wealth Management Advisor and 26-year wealth management veteran, there is no typical day – and that’s what he  loves most about his career. Here, he shares more about his role as an advisor  with Farm Bureau and what he’s looking forward to in the year ahead.  

How long have you been in the field and how has it changed in that time?

I became Series 7 and 63 licensed shortly after graduating from college in 1994. For over 20 years, prior to joining Farm Bureau, I was a financial advisor managing bank investment centers. Over that time, the industry has changed dramatically. My initial goal was to be a stockbroker, so I started in a wire house brokerage firm selling individual stocks over the phone. 

As a bank financial advisor, I helped customers learn about investment alternatives to traditional bank investment options. I gained experience working with annuities, mutual funds, alternative investments, long-term care products, and life insurance. 

Over this time, I have witnessed the industry evolve as the role of stockbroker became obsolete and advisors became fiduciaries and financial planners. My role as a Wealth Management Advisor is to help our customers identify their goals and needs, while developing a plan to turn their dreams into reality.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I really don’t have a typical day. Some days, I may be on the road early to meet an agent for joint appointments. Other days I may be working out of my office catching up on paperwork or preparing for the days and week ahead. Typically, I will spend three or four days a week working with Farm Bureau agents, meeting with customers at the agents’ offices or in clients’ homes. Other days, I will be in my office catching up on paperwork or in meetings. Every day is different, and that’s one of the things that I love about this job. 

Are there any common misconceptions about what you do?

I am not sure exactly how wealth management advisors are perceived, but I guess the only misconception I see with our position is that we are in our offices chained to our desks from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. In the time that I have been with Farm Bureau, I have worked with more than 30 agents in three agencies, covering probably 10 Eastern Iowa counties. I feel I am here to help the agents in their mission to protect the livelihoods and futures of their clients.

What do you love most about your job?

I love to help people. Getting to know our customers, learning about their backgrounds, their families, their goals and their needs — and helping them create a plan to pull everything together to help them realize their goals.   

What are you most excited about career-wise in the coming year?

I am excited to continue learning and growing as a financial advisor. We have access to wonderful financial planning tools that I am excited to become more familiar with and further implement into my practice. I am also excited to see what the next decade will bring for investors as new technologies are implemented with the potential to change our society. 

What's the most common question you get from clients?

The most common question I receive from clients is probably some form of “How much money do I need to retire?” or “Am I ready to retire?” Every person’s situation is different, so there’s not a simple answer to either question. But both questions are great openings that allow us to probe and learn more about their needs, wants and desires.

Ready to Start an Exciting New Career?

If you’re interested in the possibility of an exciting and rewarding career with Farm Bureau, click here to find out more.