The Entrepreneurial Equation™: Top Five Ways to Achieve Your Personal + Business Financial Goals with Dawn Stephens Collins

This Top Five series will feature experts in human resources, marketing, accounting, IT and others. They will introduce five things on certain topic that will help you be successful in your small business.

The Entrepreneurial Equation™ is a 40-minute program designed to help educate business owners about tools and strategies to help make building, running and preserving a business easier.  

Key Steps toward Achieving Your Personal and Business Financial Goals
Building Your Business

• Time management

• Attracting and retaining employees

• Creating Value Outside Your Business

• Retirement plans for businesses with no employees

• Retirement plans for businesses with employees

• Preserving Your Business

• Key person disability insurance

• Key person life insurance

• Deferred compensation

• Buy-sell agreements

• Disability insurance

• Life Insurance Retirement Plan (LIRP)

• Estate Considerations

Dawn Collins
We all have vivid memories of life-changing moments. Rarely, however, do we recognize
the impact those memories may have on our futures.
For me, it was when, as a Private in the U.S. Army, my Sergeant cared enough to take the
time to tell me, “Go get a Roth IRA.” That may not sound like much, but when having a
special-needs child ended my military service, that exhibition of care provided a foundation
for my service to others.

While finishing my graduate degree, I was led to serve abuse victims as the executive
director of Crisis Intervention Services. We provided outreach, court advocacy, emergency
shelter and transitional housing. I learned the importance of self-sufficiency and began
volunteering as a financial counselor.

My passion took me on an amazing career journey which has allowed me to help others
flourish in personal growth, boldness and self-confidence. I taught at William Penn
University, provided workshops for first-time home buyers, served families in need and
child care providers through the DHS Child Care Bureau, and served as the executive
director of Mahaska County YMCA.

I then joined Edward Jones and relocated to Des Moines where I continue my journey of
helping through helping clients plan for their financial futures. When I’m not at the office
with my BOA, Lisa Thai, you’ll find me around Beaverdale with my family enjoying the
outdoors. I volunteer with the Des Moines West Side Chamber of Commerce, Iowa
Coalition Against Sexual Assault, American Business Women Association and the
Consortium. I enjoy cheering for my son and daughter; Jessica and her Roosevelt High
swim team, Sam and his Special Olympics teams.

I live to serve others. My diverse experiences and compassion help me appreciate your
unique financial needs allowing me to create personalized strategies. I want to be there for
you for the rest of our lives, because I am committed to you and your future. If this appeals
to you, then let’s work together on your financial future.