Today we’d like to introduce you to Raul Vasquez.
Raul, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My beginnings were humble like most people in this world. A mother who raised me and my brother while working multiple jobs. A father in and out of my life. However, one thing was consistent, my urge to learn as much as possible about this world.
This curiosity for the unknown has helped me seek the answers that most do not ask and eventually helped me to help those I encounter.
My first job that propelled my career was at Citibank in Santa Barbara. Due to the fact that this branch was very slow I took advantage of this paid time to educate myself as much as possible on all matters related to finance. My thirst for knowledge in the financial sector become somewhat of an obsession since my mom’s knowledge was limited.
Soon after graduating from UCSB with a Bachelors in Film Studies I moved to Orange County to begin my first major position as Bank of America as a Personal Banker. Two years after starting in 2006 and I was transferred to the Newport Coast branch dealing with A-list Athletes, Actors, and Entrepreneurs. My goal at that time was to move into a Private Bank position but was cut short when the financial crisis hit. The uncertainty if the banking sector seemed to be extremely high and as a result I decided to move to the Merchant Processing or Credit Card Processing sector.
This was a blessing in disguise since I would be given an opportunity, unknowingly at the time, to start my own business venture in 2013.
In the meantime, I learned anything and everything I could regarding this amazing area of finance. After more than a decade in the financial sector I have shared my expertise with anyone wanting to improve upon their current circumstances. I would say that my main business is helping those who need help while setting up credit card processing afterwards if it makes sense. I often tell my clients that I have a wealth of information learned from various circles of influence. This is where the name Merchant Counselor came about in 2013. I did not want to sell people but consult with them based on their goals and future expectations. I provide options regardless if the end result is with me or with another company. My success has been a result of helping those I come into contact with because if I can save them money, make them money, or both then that client would rely on me for all finance related queries. To put it simply, worry less and swipe more.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been 3 major struggles when starting my own company. The first struggle being able to take the leap from corporate America to Self Employed. This was tough because of the stability a 9-5 offers with benefits etc but also because I would be traded one set of stressors for another. Instead of worrying about daily, monthly, quarterly goals I now had to make sure I motivated myself to do marketing, advertising, customer service etc. My manta for the first year was that this will pass before I know it. Thankfully it did.
The second major struggle would be the moment I decided to get married. This was tough on my business because not only did I have to work overtime to get where I wanted to be financially prior to getting married but also because I knew that this was no longer going to be just for me and whatever life I wanted. It became something larger. Something I could build for my wife, kids, and grand kids. This was a great type of pressure but pressure nonetheless.
The third major struggle was making sure I did not become complacent in the future of my business. This was being particularly tough since I do not imagine this type of struggle ending ever. From my experience those who become comfortable will eventually fall out of the system especially nowadays when the system can morph so quickly. Strategic partnerships and looking for solutions that may seem technologically advance has helped me stay ahead of the large corporations who are typically last to adopt any major shift in the industry until it has been proven by the disruptors.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The foundation of my business is credit card processing followed by business consulting. Most business are taken advantage of by the credit card processors mainly due to the cryptic nature of this industry. Most of the conversation start off with whether or not a business is happy with their processor and the credit card rates that they have agreed to pay. I educate and advise what I believe to be the best options based on their goals so that they can reach their goals as soon as possible. About 90% of the businesses I come across pay a higher than average rate. We conduct a statement analysis to provide a side by side comparison and an action plan to achieve the merchants desired result. My formula for success has been based on provided the best value service for my clients so that I may grow as they grow. The less a business pays in fees or the more money they can make benefits the business, the customer, and myself. Currently I have quite a few clients in the restaurant industry but I have retail clients, e-commerce, medical, automotive, government, etc. Working with restaurants is particularly fun for me since there is a tremendous amount of growth in that vertical. My specialty tends to be technology as well as data and analytics driven. Helping restaurants decode their clients and their spending habits is like an ever-changing game of chess. One business can benefit from streamlining their orders so that they can maximize profits every hour that they are open while another business may benefit more from expanding the number of items sold to any given customer. The fact that each situation is so different keeps me on my toes. What I specialize in is also what I am most proud of as a company and that is honesty, transparency, and a genuine concern for my clients as opposed to my profits. I love educating people on this hidden fee riddled sector and given control back to the business owner.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I tried anything and everything. I remember playing the violin in 4th grade. Moving over to the Trumpet in middle school. I have a passion for science which was propelled even further when I began building rockets. High school opened me up to Wrestling, the gym, and snowboarding. I always wanted to mark off as much as possible on my bucket list so attending and graduating college was an incredible journey. It was a time of many first experiences. Living by myself for the first time. Traveling to the UK in my first trip outside of the United States. As well as opening my mind even more to what this world has to offer. So far in my 33 years of life the number one lesson learned is Balance. Rich or poor most struggle with Balance which is why I strive to work hard but play harder.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2214 Rockefeller Lane, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
- Website: http://mc.theignitepaymentssolutions.com/
- Phone: 6616185066
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Raul Vasquez
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
