September 2020 Sponsor Spotlight - Justin Hoffman

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Title: Executive Vice President
 
Company: PSA Insurance & Financial Services
 
Length of time you’ve been a FEI member: Joined this year
 
FEI leadership involvement (past and present): Member of the Board and business development committee
 
Tell us a little bit about your career, educational/professional background and how you got to where you are today.
 
I’ve spent the majority of my career in financial services. Before joining PSA, I worked for M&T Bank, managing the naming rights partnership between the bank and the Baltimore Ravens. While working, I earned my master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
 
Today, I’m proud to be a member of the PSA Leadership Team. I oversee sales management and marcom for the firm. Every day, I’m filled with gratitude to have the good fortune of working with a dynamic and high-energy team that amazes me with their dedication to their craft and commitment to one another and our clients. Teamwork definitely makes the dream work at PSA.
 
What is one piece of information you wish someone had told you when you first started your career?

If you think of your career as “just a job,” you’re doing yourself (and your co-workers) a disservice. Consciously choose to love what you do, and everything changes for the better – especially your mindset and personal energy. 
 
What is your best networking tip?
 
Focus on maintaining a genuine interest in the other party. Make sure to ask how you can help them. This “give first” partnership approach will come back to benefit you. Even if you can’t point to a new account or some other tangible business metric, at minimum it builds your reputation as a connector and a good person, which we can all agree is paramount in building an enduring career. 
 
 
How have you gotten others in your life to appreciate the world of finance?
 
I set up an online trading account for my kids. Whenever they have a personal success, rather than buying another piece of plastic to have around the house, I deposit money in “their” account and let them decide what stocks to buy. I’ve been surprised at how into it they’ve gotten…coming to me asking the stock price for brands they know, reading what analysts are saying about the company, etc. I’ve been so impressed at how they collaborate and weigh decisions relating to their next investment.
 
What are some of your personal hobbies outside of work?
 
Mainly pulling iPads out of my twin’s hands. When I’m not doing that, I like to ride mountain bikes and play squash.