PITTSBURGH _ After nearly three decades as a financial adviser, Robert Hapanowicz has built his financial services company, Hapanowicz & Associates, into one of the largest independent firms in the Pittsburgh region with more than $300 million in client assets under management.
But being a financial adviser was not always his career aspiration. When Hapanowicz, 59, was a high school student in the 1970s, he was obsessed with motor cross racing.
His dream was to one day open his own motor cross bike shop.
"I knew I wanted to be in business," he said. "I always had that entrepreneurial spirit. It's in my family's blood. I always wanted to be in business. I knew I would be in business. I didn't know what it was going to be.
"What appealed to me about motor cross was the individuality of the sport. It was me against the field. It was fast-paced. You always had to make very quick decisions. And I liked the competition. You have to be passionate about what you're doing. Otherwise, it's just a job."
The Christmas of his first semester at Edinboro University marked a turning point.
His mother _ a savvy investor _ gave him 400 shares of stock in a computer company, which quadrupled in value by springtime. He said that opened his eyes to the possibility of another career path. At age 19, he became less interested in motor cross and more interested in reading the Wall Street Journal and pursuing a major in economics and business.
"How many people get shares of stock for Christmas?" he asked. "Most people get a sweater, a necktie or a bicycle. I got something intangible. I got a piece of paper. A stock certificate. Without that experience, I may still be in this business today. But that was certainly an inflection point."
Hapanowicz got into the financial services business in 1987, starting with a small regional broker-dealer.
It was the same year that Black Monday occurred and the market crashed 25 percent in one day. But that didn't discourage him. Within a year and half, he was the second-highest producer in the office.
"I remember very well going to my manager and asking him for help," Hapanowicz said. "I was sharing support services _ a sales assistant _ with other guys in the office. Here I was busy as all heck and he couldn't find the resources to do that. So, I left within a few months and started my own firm."
That was in 1989. His first office was downtown and he has been operating his company there his entire career.
"Life has many twists and turns," Hapanowicz said. "There are many career paths I could have ended up on. I am fortunate to have chosen this one.
"Over the years we have helped a lot of people achieve their financial goals. That is very satisfying. I can't imagine another career that would be as fulfilling as this one. I love what I do and cannot imagine doing anything else."
