2018 Newsmakers: Tyler Cuba

When Tyler Cuba joined Cuba Financial Group, a comprehensive financial planning and wealth management firm, he says the industry was changing rapidly. Cuba realized being an early adopter of technology would help the firm stay relevant and expand.Now, nine years later, the business has nearly tripled, and its geographic reach has significantly expanded to serve clients in 15 states. Adoption of technology during this time has been instrumental in this growth. Cuba prides himself on the client experience, and he has helped Cuba Financial Group find meaningful ways of delivering it with the use of technology. Among many examples, they have developed the use of effective virtual meetings, allowing them to secure and maintain relationships as far away as California and New York.

�We believe that providing our clients the education, tools and resources to successfully accomplish their financial goals is a must-do in today�s world,� Cuba says. �Technology is at the core of these changes, helping us maintain a superior level of high-touch service and expertise.�

Cuba says one issue in the financial planning industry is the aging advisor, noting the average age of an advisor is 55. To help fellow advisors address this issue, he has spoken at national conferences about how advisors should position themselves for financial planning in a changing profession.

Cuba has been nominated for the First Allied Representative Advisory Council, a council of 12 advisors within the First Allied Securities broker dealer that meet each year to address needs and challenges facing fellow advisors. It is the council�s hope that Cuba can provide insight into an office structure that fosters advisor mentoring and continuity, sharing his firsthand experience of working with his father, who has been an advisor for more than 35 years. If selected, Cuba will be the youngest advisor, chosen from over 1,000 advisors, to serve in this position.

In addition to professional achievements, service to his community is important to Cuba. He currently serves as the president of the SoutheastHEALTH Ambassador Board and is a member of Cape Girardeau�s Parks and Recreation Board. He also serves on the Men�s Association Board at his church. Previously, he spent four years on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Missouri and was a big brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. For the past two years, he served as the freshman basketball coach at Notre Dame Regional High School.

�I remember growing up in this community, and everything about my experiences gave me a childhood I�m very fond of,� Cuba says. �I want all children to experience the same childhood that I had when I grew up here.�

These memories play a role in Cuba�s outreach to the youth of the Cape Girardeau community.

�The majority of my service is youth-focused; that�s where my passion lies,� Cuba says. �There are a lot of needs in the community, and I feel if we can address those needs at the youth level, we can make the future of this community even better.�