How Mike Woods Built a Legacy of Service and Trust

When Mike Woods joined a small financial advisory firm right after college, he had no idea he was starting a lifelong career. In fact, financial advising wasn’t part of his plan at all. Mike was fresh out of the Marine Corps, studying for a liberal arts degree, and unsure of what the future held. “I had no idea this is what I was going to do,” Mike explained. “Pure dumb luck and some divine intervention led me to meet the guy who would eventually become my business partner.”

It all began with a handshake agreement, where Mike promised to stay and learn everything about the business. In return, he would help carry on the firm’s legacy. “Literally the first six to seven years was all on-the-job training, learning it all because that was not what I had gone to school to to do,” Mike said. But that trust and commitment set the stage for a career centered on helping clients and building a company based on service and integrity.

A Purpose That Goes Beyond Wealth

For Mike, financial advising isn’t just about managing portfolios; it’s about making a deeper impact on the lives of his clients and their communities. His motivation is deeply rooted in a sense of service and giving back. “I tell our team all the time, when we do our jobs well, we are impacting thousands and thousands of people that will probably never know,” Mike shared. “If we do a really good job in building wealth for our clients, they then have the freedom and the flexibility to go and serve and give in communities all across the country.”

Mike sees his role as more than just a financial advisor — he views it as a calling, a way to help clients achieve not only their financial goals but also their personal dreams of giving back and making a difference. “It’s a ministry to us,” Mike said. “That’s why we get up every morning. That’s why we do it.”

That’s shaped how Mike and his firm operate day-to-day. He’s created a culture focused on understanding the broader impact of their work, emphasizing that it’s not just about making money but about helping clients live better lives. “Our little day-to-day impact in the financial service industry can actually impact tens of thousands — and probably more than that — of people all over the country,” he explained.

Mike’s commitment to service is clear in every client interaction. He believes that by helping clients build wealth and achieve financial security, they are in turn empowered to make positive contributions to their communities. This mindset is what drives Mike and his team to show up each day with passion and purpose. It’s about creating a ripple effect of good, one financial plan at a time.

Helping Support Clients Through Tough Times

Over the years, Mike has seen the deep impact that comes from supporting clients during their toughest moments. His firm often works with clients facing major life transitions, offering a level of care that goes beyond financial advice. “Like many people in our industry, after doing this for a while, you find that you end up working with lots of widows and widowers,” Mike said.

One story that stands out for Mike is about a 76-year-old widow who needed to buy a car for the first time in her life. “For fifty years, she had always had a spouse that took care of her, bought the cars, did all the things that she needed,” he recalled. “And she finds herself in a scenario where, all of a sudden, the person that had always helped her isn’t there anymore. And she’s nervous. She’s anxious. She doesn’t want to do it because she doesn’t want to be taken advantage of.”

Mike and his team stepped in to help. “We have, on many occasions, helped a widow buy the very first car that they’ve ever bought by themselves,” he shared. “The longest one we ever did, we spent almost a year slowly walking a lady through the process of doing the research, figuring out what she wanted, getting prepped on the conversation of what you’re gonna do, how you’re gonna do it.”

Mike even offered to go with her to the dealership. “I literally offered to come to her and do it, to walk into the dealership with her,” he said. But she felt ready. “She said, ‘Nope. We’ve done all the work. I’m ready to go.’ And she went and bought her very first car.”
And when she got home, she sent Mike a photo, with a grin spanning from ear to ear.

Building for the Future: Preparing the Next Generation

Mike’s journey started with a promise to his mentor, and he’s dedicated to keeping that promise by building a strong foundation for the future. The firm has grown from a small operation with just a few staff members to a multi-location business with a clear vision for the years ahead. “The founding partner had a handshake agreement with me that he would teach me everything he knew as long as I agreed to stay and be his succession plan,” Mike explained. “He made promises to hundreds of families that we would take care of them, and now I’m building the Generation 3 team to ensure those promises are fulfilled.”

For Mike, this isn’t just about expanding the business; it’s about creating something that will outlast him. “We’re setting the puzzle pieces in motion so that all of these families will be served for the next 30 to 40 years,” he said. “I get up every morning grinning ear to ear because I love this challenge.”

The Power of Partnership: How Orion Helps Mike Serve Clients Better

A big part of Mike’s success has come from smart partnerships, including his decision to work with Orion. Before partnering with Orion, his firm’s strategies were spread across multiple systems, making it challenging to provide a seamless experience for clients. “The Orion platform has allowed us to bring together all of the money managers and all of the strategies that we’ve used for years,” Mike explained. “It’s always been spread out all over the place, and now through the Orion platform, we’ve been able to bring all of these puzzle pieces together, put it all at one custodian, and wrap it in with all of the growing tech stack that Orion is building.”

This integration has allowed Mike’s firm to streamline its operations and become more efficient. “With Orion, everything is in one place,” he said. “One custodian, you can do advisor directed, team directed, third-party money managers, UMAs, securities-backed line of credits. We can go out and compete with the biggest players in the industry, and we can win the business.”

The benefits of this partnership have been clear for Mike and his team. “As Orion continues to build out their tech stack, we are continuing to improve and streamline our operations and the products and services that we can offer to our end clients,” he shared. “The software is all integrated, and the data is all flowing seamlessly amongst all of the software programs. We are a better, faster, and more efficient firm today than we were five years ago before joining Orion.”

For Mike, the partnership with Orion isn’t just about technology; it’s about having the right tools to help his firm scale and deliver an exceptional client experience. “In my opinion, five years from now, we’ll look back and chuckle at how we do things today.”.

Looking Ahead: A Balanced Approach to Growth

As Mike plans for the future, he’s focused on continuing the firm’s growth while staying true to its core values. His strategy includes both bringing on experienced advisors who are ready to retire and hiring young, energetic professionals eager to learn. “We are currently the succession plan for several veteran advisors in their sixties,” Mike said. “At the same time, we’re also adding advisors in their twenties, thirties, and forties. I believe we’re creating a win-win opportunity for all parties involved and, most importantly, for the end clients.”

Mike’s journey is about much more than building a business; it’s about honoring promises made to clients and creating a lasting impact. It’s about those quiet, powerful moments — like when a client sends a photo, beaming because she accomplished something she never thought she could. It’s about mentoring young advisors, preparing them to carry on the legacy, and watching them grow into leaders. And it’s about partnering with Orion to ensure his firm can operate efficiently and continue to compete at the highest level.

“I get up every morning grinning ear to ear because I love this stuff,” Mike said. “It’s a fun challenge with a lot of upside.”

For many advisors, Mike’s story may feel like a glimpse into their own future. It should serve as a reminder that with the right focus, a clear purpose, and strong partnerships, it’s possible to build a firm that not only thrives today but will continue to serve clients for generations to come.