Mendim Gecaj didn’t grow up around wealth. Quite the opposite.
His parents immigrated from Kosovo with very little, and his father arrived in the U.S. with a negative net worth. Mendim saw early on just how hard money was to earn and how even harder it could be to manage. Those experiences shaped his view of financial planning not as a career, but as a calling.
Today, he built a practice managing over $550M as a Senior Wealth Advisor at Mercer Advisors, helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives make confident financial decisions. He works with high net worth and ultra high net worth clients, but never lost touch with where he came from.
What drives him is simple: clarity, confidence, and real conversations.
He talks often about how wealth doesn’t prevent poor decisions. It actually makes them more expensive. The advisor’s job, in his view, isn’t just about numbers. It’s about showing up, being fully present, listening deeply, and making sure the client’s vision is always at the center of the process.
He uses a flight analogy to explain his role. The client chooses the destination. The advisor helps fly the plane. And the roadmap is surprisingly practical.
Mendim’s team now manages over $550 million in client assets.
Listen to how he got there:
1. He found a niche
At first, he tried to be everything to everyone. Now, he focuses on the people he understands best: small business owners, founders, and highly compensated professionals.
2. He stayed authentic
He used to think he needed to mirror other successful advisors. But real traction came when he started leaning into who he is.
3. He redefined trust
He thought trust came from technical expertise. But over time, he saw it’s built through empathy, presence, and being there when it matters most.
4. He didn’t chase referrals
He earned them by doing excellent work, guiding clients through tough moments, and helping them make clear, confident decisions.
Mendim is just getting started. He’s committed to mentoring younger advisors and helping them build the kind of career that’s driven by service, not ego.
If you care about building deep trust, scaling with integrity, and creating a firm that puts people first, Mendim’s story is worth studying.
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Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money.
Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience.
Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow.
We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build.
Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.