When COVID hit, we all had to adjust to the unknown. Being semi-isolated changed how we interacted with others. For companies, that meant changing how we would do business. Though entrepreneurs tried to keep up with the latest available news on what an organization had to do to survive, they largely forayed into the unknown. Sadly, many businesses did not survive.
At the time, there were only three options: keep doing what you have been doing, pivot in a new direction, or try something completely different. Businessman Sean Moran tried the latter option. And looking back, it is one he is glad he took with Red Barn Financial.
As a professional accountant, he had the opportunity to work with some Fortune 500 companies in the field of corporate tax. After Tax Day, April 15, many would scoff at the thought of being involved with taxes all year. But Moran said it was exciting to identify ways in which a business could save millions of dollars a year by taking advantage of new or unseen tax breaks.
Though he enjoyed the work, he had a sense he could find that same satisfaction in helping families prepare for the future.
Still living in Virginia at the time, he earned his securities license through a local firm.
“When I started working at my last firm in 2019, I knew at some point I would want to go out on my own, but I wasn’t in a hurry to do so,” Moran said. “When we moved to Murfreesboro in 2020 it became clear that it would be a better strategy to create my own firm where I can serve clients the way they want to be served than it would be to build my old firm’s brand in the area.”
But in addition to being new to town, he was also in the midst of a pandemic. Most would consider that two strikes, but Sean wasn’t deterred. His business, like most other businesses, was slow going at first but the founder was optimistic about the future. He recognizes his wife as being his greatest support during that time.
Moran inserted himself into a local church and the community. Sean can also be seen at several networking meetings and other business events. The name of his business, Red Barn Financial, came to him because he purchased a property with a large red barn on it. But there is no actual barn to visit, as most of his client meetings are on Zoom or over the phone, a habit he picked up during COVID.
Today, Red Barn Financial offers help with portfolio management, retirement strategies, legacy planning, small business ownership, life insurance, debt management and financial education.
The financial expert insists there will always be challenges running a small business.
“Anyone who thinks they can start a business and it will be easy is mistaken,” Moran says. “I am growing steadily and I am thankful, but I still have the capacity to bring on more clients. Early on your income is lower and it does take time to get to where you want to be.” It makes sense that someone with years of accounting and financial experience would remind us of that.
He refers to a quote from Zig Ziglar: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” And so he does.
The best way to find out more about Sean and Red Barn is to visit his website, redbarnfinancial.com. There, you can learn more about what he does, find his contact info and even schedule an appointment.
We should all ask ourselves: what is holding us back from future endeavors? There is never a good time to take a chance on something, especially in business. You just have to accept the risks and remain flexible when adversity strikes, because it will.
