Financing Gen Y: How Sarah Riegelhuth co-founded a financial firm with a difference

Sarah Riegelhuth is the perfect role model for any young woman. Intelligent, humble and self-motivated Riegelhuth founded the financial planning firm Wealth Enhancers in early 2010 alongside her now fiancé Finn Kelly.

Riegelhuth had been working for her late father’s company Synchron when she noticed a gap in the market. In 2009, she says, there weren’t many financial planning firms targeting the younger generations, but she’d noticed that, with the right advice, young people could “achieve great things”.

When attending a business services conference, Riegelhuth met her fiancé-to-be Kelly.  Quickly they discovered they shared the same vision and went into business together – Riegelhuth focusing more on the financial strategy side and Kelly on the investment side.

Wealth Enhancers is built around the idea that the earlier you start planning financially, the better off you’ll be later. Riegelhuth being young herself recognised members of Generation Y tend to act now and think later, and are very much accustomed to instant gratification. Knowing this, Riegelhuth constructed the business to offer “very much goal-based advice” targeted at Gen Ys to help them achieve their dreams.

Wealth Enhancers now has offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and specialises in providing financial services to young professionals, entertainers, sportspeople and those with a high net worth across Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania and Brisbane. When starting out Riegelhuth says the financial services community didn’t understand their business and like most new firms cashflow was a constant challenge, but the general public took to the idea and last year it recorded a turnover of $1.2 million.

SmartCompany spoke to Riegelhuth about finding the right employees, instilling a positive company- wide culture conducive to good health and fast growth, and finding love with your business partner.

Name: Sarah Riegelhuth

Company: Wealth Enhancers

Location: Melbourne

Mornings

Starting her day with a spring in her step, Riegelhuth wakes early and goes for a run before work.

“I wake up every day at 5:30am at the latest and work out. I run every day and usually I meet my friends at the Tan [the track around the Botanic Gardens in Melbourne] for a run or do yoga.”

Riegelhuth has endeavoured to instil her passion for fitness with Wealth Enhancers’ company culture by hosting weekly cycling and running sessions.

Following her morning exercise regime, it’s off to work for Riegelhuth.

“I usually go straight to the office from there and shower and have my breakfast.

“We have an 8:45am dial in meeting and every one across the country dials in and we go through the challenges we’re facing and the critical numbers and this takes five to 10 minutes and then everyone is on with their day,” she says.

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