Havrylyan said he worked just as hard at training his body as he had at training his mind as a college student. At times, he said, he wanted to quit, but did not. Instead, he found role models in the very people that had inspired him to get physically fit in the first place.
“I saw people that were older than me or in worse shape, and they did it, so I decided I could, too,” he said. “The people that go there are the same ones and they notice if you don’t show up for your workout. That taught me accountability and motivation.”
Havrylyan resolved to get fit, and he did, losing 30 pounds in the process. He became competitive in physical events that tested his strength and endurance.
He also became more focused. Havrylyan decided to not only live a better life, but to help those who had helped him do it.
In September 2017, he started Outside the Box Financial Planning and marketed the firm’s planning services to CrossFit gym owners, many in their thirties and forties.
“I decided that if I can start with clients at a much younger age, I could help them even more,” he said.
Havrylyan said that unlike his former employer, most of his clients do not have $500,000 to invest, but that did not mean he could not advise them financially.
“I developed a mission to support the CrossFit community by providing gym owners with access to affordable, high-quality financial planning so they can focus on what they do best,” he said. “I share the same work ethic, passion, dedication and drive they have, and can help them achieve their financial and lifestyle goals.”
As small business owners, Havrylyan said, his clients need specialized wealth management advice and select financial products designed to protect their livelihood. For example, he said, if somebody gets hurt at the gym and sues the owner, forming a limited liability corporation might not limit personal liability.
In his blog, Havrylyan recommends that CrossFit gym owners take out a commercial umbrella liability policy to reduce their potential risk.