30 in Their Thirties: Sam G. Huszczo // 35

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Sam G. Huszczo // 35

President // CFA Society of Detroit, Detroit // Employees: 7 // Members: 400+

University of Michigan

It didn’t take long for Sam G. Huszczo to become an entrepreneur. Two years after working as a broker at a large financial advisory firm, in 2005, at the age of 24, he launched SGH Wealth Management in Southfield. Today, the firm, which will soon move to larger quarters, has more than $100 million in assets under management. His clients include high-net-worth individuals, executives, small business owners, retirees, and corporations.

A certified financial planner, Huszczo credits his success to his upbringing — his father is a professor of management in the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University, while his mother ran a calligraphy and design business out of the family kitchen before joining General Motors Co. as a designer.

“My dad is someone I can always call on for advice on any business matter, and it was cool growing up and watching my mom create a business out of nothing. It made me think there’s nothing I can’t do,” he says. Huszczo, who developed a strong mathematics background, graduated with honors and received an economics degree from the University of Michigan — along with completing a rigorous program on his path to being recognized as a certified financial analyst, or CFA. The three-year process, where professionals develop a deep knowledge of the financial and investment sectors, isn’t for the faint of heart.

Overall, only 35 percent of CFA participants complete the program and pass the final exam. In 2009, soon after being certified, Huszczo joined the CFA Society of Detroit, which has more than 400 members in Michigan. “I joined the board five years ago and have worked my way up by serving as treasurer, programming chair, public awareness chair, and now president (August 2016-2017),” he says.

“Since I joined the board, attendance at our events is up 65 percent, while sponsorship levels are at an all-time high. It’s a great organization. The CFA designation demands strict ethical guidelines. In fact, we sign a code of ethics. When dealing with investors (clients), we always put their interests first.”