Dustin Stanley’s journey to becoming one of the top retirement advisors in the country is a story of persistence, reinvention, and vision.
He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, in a close family where outdoor adventures and hard work went hand in hand. His father was his greatest mentor, teaching him not just practical skills like welding but also advanced math and the discipline to push through obstacles. Dustin’s gift for numbers was recognized early. As a teenager, he was recruited into programs like the National Engineering Aptitude Search and JETS, drawing attention from elite universities.
Instead of pursuing engineering, Dustin joined the family business, Hytec, where he worked for 24 years. He expected to retire there. When the company closed, it was devastating—but also the spark for a new beginning.
In 2013, he stepped into financial services. Within two years, he was offered partnership at Strategic Wealth Designers, where he helped grow the firm from $20 million in assets under management to nearly $3 billion by 2025. Along the way, he co-wrote a retirement planning workshop taught nationwide and became a regular guest on Sunday morning television.
In 2025, Dustin launched Stanley Wealth and Retirement in Sarasota, Florida, to focus on personalized, client-first planning. Beyond his career, he is a husband, father of two sons, outdoor enthusiast, and volunteer. His guiding belief: “Success is never owned—it is only rented, and the rent is due every single week, month, and year.”
Q&A with Dustin Stanley
How do you personally define success?
For me, success is about impact. I don’t measure it by money or titles. I measure it by how many families I’ve helped remove stress and how much time they can now spend on what matters. Numbers fade, but impact lasts.
Can you share an early lesson that shaped your view of success?
I learned it from my dad. Anytime we faced a challenge, his answer was, “We just work harder.” When the family business shut down, I leaned on that lesson. What I thought was the end turned into my biggest opportunity.
How has failure shaped your understanding of success?
Failure has been my greatest teacher. Losing the family business after 24 years crushed me at the time. But that ending forced me into financial planning, which became my calling. Now I see failure as a reset button, not a dead end.
What habits keep you grounded on your path to success?
Every December, I write down my goals for the coming year—professional, personal, and spiritual. Then I break them into two- or three-year increments. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when you focus in short bursts.
What’s one belief about success that others often disagree with you on?
I don’t believe in work-life balance. If you love what you do, work becomes part of life, not separate from it. My career energizes me, not drains me.
How do you stay focused when you feel overwhelmed?
I go outside. Fishing or boating clears my head. Being on the water resets me. It reminds me that big problems shrink when you step away.
What strategy has helped you the most in building success?
Listening. Most people want to talk, but real success comes from listening deeply—whether to clients, colleagues, or family. If you understand what someone values, the solutions become obvious.
What advice would you give your younger self about success?
Don’t be afraid of change. The path you imagine may not be the one you end up walking. Stay open to the unexpected, because that’s often where you find the best opportunities.
What role does resilience play in success?
It’s everything. There’s a saying I live by: “It’s never as good as it seems, and it’s never as bad as it seems.” That mindset keeps me from getting too high or too low. Success is about showing up again and again.
What’s the best small investment you’ve made toward your success?
A chess set for my son Skye. Playing with him challenges me to think differently. Success isn’t just business—it’s about sharpening your mind in unexpected ways.
Key Learnings
- Success is best measured by impact, not titles or wealth.
- Failure often opens doors to unexpected opportunities.
- Writing down goals and breaking them into short timelines creates momentum.
- Resilience and persistence matter more than “perfect balance.”
- Listening is often the most underrated key to long-term success.