From Eating at Food Banks to Director & Co-Founder of an RIA

I talked to Patrick Shaw, co-founder of Fortitude Financial Partners.

Unlike most financial advisors, he didn’t come from money.

Not even close.

He grew up with a scarcity mindset and finding meals at

churches & food banks.

He was the first in his family to go to college.

And what did he study?

"Basketball and teaching."

But during his junior year, something clicked.

He got a job writing grants for nonprofits.

It sparked an obsession with finance.

Fast forward to 2006.

Fresh out of college.

No network. No “natural market.”

But started a career in financial advising anyway.

Just fishbowls in restaurants, free lunches, and a lot of "no’s".

Some of those first clients are still with him 20 years later.

Today, Patrick runs a fast-growing firm built on one mission:

Take care of clients. Take care of people.

The secret sauce?

A hands-on team model.

Deep tax expertise.

And an obsession with developing advisors the right way.

Great examples and stories for early career advisors:• How to start in finance with zero connections• Building a firm culture that people want to stay in• Why tax planning might be the most overlooked growth lever in advising• Growing without sacrificing service• The vision for a multi-generation advisory practice

If you care about building a sustainable advisory career, this one is a must-listen.

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Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money.

Hosted by ⁠Conner Young⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience.

Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow.

We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build.

Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.