Michael Konopaski’s skill set is as diverse as the physical environment he has built for the Inclusive Advisory team on George Street in Peterborough.
The long-time entrepreneur, Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and professor — he’s also got a PhD in entrepreneurship — has been building a team to deliver accounting, legal, and wealth management advice in a different way.
Part of the Inclusive Advisory approach is about the physical space, and part of it is based on the diverse skills and abilities of the hand-picked team of professionals who deliver accounting, legal, and wealth management services to individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses, and not for profits across the region.
From the yellow exterior of the building at 521 George Street North to the whimsical interior offices, the place has a noticeably unique look and feel and vibe. It’s playful and welcoming to both clients and to staff — who Konopaski views as partners in the business.
Everyone enjoys bright, open, and colourful work spaces that are full of personal touches like artwork and photographs. While there are many areas within the office with sit/stand work spaces and shelves of toys, costumes, and props for spontaneous team building and problem-solving sessions, the office is not all fun and games.
“Due to the nature of the business, there are often delicate and sensitive issues and we want to be respectful of our clients that are having a difficult time,” Konopaski notes.
And fully supporting the needs of clients is what Inclusive’s team of accountants, lawyers, and investment advisors is all about.
“We offer an unconventional alternative to the traditional world of professional services,” Konopaski says, taking a seat in one of the shared meeting rooms. “This is a multi-discipline practice. We’re not just sharing space — we’re partners, and we’re sharing decision making and ownership.”
Unconventional? Maybe, but don’t be fooled. Not only do the almost 25 professionals have a diverse set of skills to offer clients, but years of experience as well.
The most seasoned professionals act as mentors to the younger staff and the interns from Fleming College and Trent University that Inclusive takes on (and often hires). Guiding the next generation of future accountants, lawyers, and financial planners is imperative to sustain the business (and Peterborough) in the long run.
Sharing is a big deal to Konopaski. Since this business is being built for the long run, he doesn’t believe in personal brands — although his values and his belief system flow through the Inclusive Advisory space, through every level of the corporate culture, and into the services delivered to a diverse client base. But he insists he is not Inclusive Advisory, that it truly is a team.
“I’m not the business,” he says more than once, just to be clear.
As a strong believer in the strengths of teams, it’s tough for Konopaski to see people wanting to connect with professionals who are representing “themselves” as a brand, encouraging others to emulate their actions.
And, unlike their competitors who are either branches of national firms or have partnered with U.S. companies, Inclusive Advisory is truly local — 100 per cent of the revenue the company generates stays in the local community.
And that’s the point of Inclusive Advisory. You don’t have to be what they are — they will work with you, where you are, on whatever service you need. There’s no minimum financial threshold and there are no barriers. Konopaski says as long as you’re open-minded and looking for exceptional advice, Inclusive Advisory wants to work with you.
As a former professor of entrepreneurship, Konopaski is naturally focused on sharing knowledge and making learning possible for his team and their clients.
He believes that entrepreneurship is about solving problems, and that’s also a big focus for Inclusive Advisory. They’re solving pain points with their innovative, multi-discipline approach that results in greater efficiency of service delivery. Their “inverted pyramid” governance structure means that the staff closest to the client have more decision-making authority and choice of action. It’s a streamlined approach that works for their fast-growing number of clients.
When you visit the Inclusive Advisory office, it’s easy to notice the difference Konopaski and his team of partners have been working so hard to craft. There is a constant buzz of activity, but there is also laughter. There’s music, and every decoration has a story to tell. On the days they take turns baking fresh bread for team meetings, the place even smells awesome.
It’s not just a new business model: it’s the creation of an innovative new process within industries that have been around for hundreds of years. It’s totally inclusive — and it’s working. Or, as Inclusive Advisory likes to say: “Smart collaboration. Better together.”
Inclusive Advisory is headquartered at 521 George Street North in downtown Peterborough, with a second location at 250 Queen Street in Port Perry. For more information, call 705-743-0266, email info@inclusiveadvisory.ca, or visit inclusiveadvisory.ca. You can also follow Inclusive Advisory on Facebook and Twitter.
