People in My Position Were Responsible
A Wake-Up Call That Shaped My Career
I have a distinct memory of when my perspective changed on the importance of my role within the financial services industry—and now I hold the same view of importance for others in the industry.
When I decided to study philosophy in college, I didn’t exactly envision myself walking into a job interview with a Kierkegaard book in hand, ready to dazzle potential employers with my deep thoughts on existentialism. However, reality soon set in: I graduated in 2010, facing bills, student loans, and an upcoming wedding. Needless to say, the job market wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for a guy with a love for Plato.
Through what I can only describe as a series of unexpected (and somewhat hilarious) events, I found myself starting my first real job as a licensed banker. With a FINRA securities license and zero experience in the financial world, I plunged headfirst into the vast industry of financial services. My primary survival tactic? The one thing I knew how to do: read. I was determined to be good at this, not just for me, but for my soon-to-be wife and the financial stability we were working toward.
I grew up in a small town, so my exposure to different industries was... limited. My college years were spent soaking in historical theology and philosophy—nothing exactly marketable in the corporate world. But getting married made my priorities very clear: I needed to earn enough to keep us comfortable and stress-free. At the same time, something deeper inside was pushing me to not just scrape by, but to be excellent at whatever I did.
The first book I picked up was Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin. If you’ve ever read it, you know it’s a gripping account of the 2008 financial crisis, packed with stories of bankers, regulators, and policymakers making world-altering decisions. This was the world I had entered.
Determined to make a mark in my new banking role, I dove in. My job? To bring more assets to the bank by selling financial products—everything from basic bank accounts to investment services. My branch was in an affluent part of Dallas, and I spent my days in the lobby greeting customers, inviting them into my office, and (discreetly) trying to uncover any opportunity to offer them more products.
And then there was that turning point, the morning that lives vividly in my memory. A man, maybe in his 50s, walked in to order a new debit card—nothing complex, just a simple transaction. I invited him into my office and started my usual discovery routine. Honestly, looking back, I think he was just humoring me. He probably saw I was new and wanted to let me go through my little sales pitch without bursting my bubble.
As I pulled up his account, I noticed he had a mortgage with us. Intrigued, I looked up the estimated value of his house and realized he had a substantial amount of equity. Now, this was 2010—home values were still low, and the opportunity to offer a home equity line of credit was rare. So I figured, why not give it a shot?
As I started to bring up the equity in his home, he glanced at the copy of Too Big to Fail sitting on my desk. He calmly asked, “Have you read that book?” I nodded, feeling a little proud. And then he said something that completely changed how I saw my job—and myself.
“You know, Shaun, thousands of people in your position were responsible for this crisis we’re in.”
Ouch. That was a gut punch. My first thought? “Wait, is this guy accusing me of being part of the problem? I’m just a kid trying to make rent!” But my second thought was a lot deeper. It hit me that my job mattered—a lot. What I did had far-reaching consequences, not just for me but for countless other people. I was part of a system that held real power, and I couldn’t just coast through it with my head down.
As a Christian, I had always thought about my faith in terms of my personal life—my marriage, my community, my church. That got me thinking, and I began to ask myself how my faith should also influence my actions at work. Was the product I was selling actually good for people? Was I truly serving my neighbor? Could I be a faith-driven banker in a system that didn’t always seem to prioritize the well-being of its customers?
That pivotal conversation has stuck with me. Now, years later, I work with financial advisors, wealth managers, and asset managers, and I can see the enormous weight their roles carry. Sure, during the financial crisis there were some bad actors, but many people were just trying to do their jobs without fully grasping the broader impact. When you finally pick your head up and realize the significance of your role as I did, it’s humbling.
As a Christian, that realization brings both a deep sense of purpose and a heavy responsibility. We aren’t just pushing paper or selling products. We’re influencing lives, communities, and even the course of history. It’s a powerful reminder that faith should not just guide how we live our personal lives, but how we work in the financial industry—informing our approach to faithful stewardship of our calling, whether as a banker, advisor, or wealth manager. We’re loving our neighbors by offering goods that are “good” and services that “serve.”
Shaun Morgan is Business Development Director for EverSource Wealth Advisors. In developing strategic initiatives to expand the company’s market presence, he enjoys fostering relationships with advisors and contemplating vital matters in today's financial marketplace. Follow Shaun on LinkedIn.