Meet Tiffany and Darius Franklin of Kingdom Group Financial in North Houston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany and Darius Franklin.

Tiffany and Darius, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Prior to KGF, I was a young professional starting my career in the governmental sector doing Accounting and Auditing work. I felt that everything was going great! It wasn’t until I was laid off from my secure, retirement-safe job that I felt thrusted into the entrepreneurial journey I am on today. This travesty was after the birth of my oldest son. Not only was it untimely, but it was a challenging period in my life. As my family grew larger the realization was clear. This business was ordained to allow me and my family the freedom to grow without feeling guilted or ashamed by corporate America.

In hindsight— the thought, the skill, and the drive had always been engrained in my fiber. I believe it to be my destiny. Our company’s philosophy is the scripture, Matthew 6:33; But Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. We truly believe that if we focus on what God has given us (the notion and the vision for KGF), use our gift; and use our passion for numbers, we will be successful.

With a solid background in Tax Preparation & Accounting from the University of Houston-Downtown, I ventured out and took a leap of faith because I knew I had the unwavering support of my family. Going through the startup phase, the growing pains (as some would say, the lows of the valley), had always felt like highs to me. Every failure was an opportunity to learn and to grow.

We’ve adopted the mantra of “the customer experience is paramount.” Our clients become family. We believe in not only providing superb tax & financial services but also encompassing a holistic and proactive approach to our client’s financial lives. That in part has helped us to grow organically because we put our clients first. Making an impact truly holds more weight versus broken promises. We simply deliver on what we say and are proponents of expecting accountability by way of our clients. It’s what keeps the proprietor relationship very relevant and fulfilling to both of us.

As to where we are today, we are simply just striving, year-by-year—day-by-day to learn how to be better individuals and of better service to our clients. What makes this an impassioned business is an intention of leaving a legacy for our two sons.

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?
By no stretch of imagination can you describe KGFs road as obstacle free. Trial, error, and self-correction have been our mode of operation. We do not take shortcuts. We believe that avoiding instant gratification has helped us to sustain, to grow, and to adapt. We are setting our business up to win in the long-term and to be able to reach its fullest potential. We are getting glimpses of our arduous work now. These glimpses remind us that our struggles are necessary.

Mainly, organization and the fear of the unknown were our major Achilles heel. It wasn’t until my husband, Darius Franklin, assumed the role as Chief Operations Officer that our interior functions took shape and is now running more efficiently.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kingdom Group Financial story. Tell us more about the business.
We are an Accounting, Tax, and Investments Firm* that specializes in the holistic financial picture for Individuals and Business Owners. We take the reins of your financial* and tax planning. We stand by the notion of truly being sure you (the client) are utilizing yourself as best as you possibly can. For our business owners, we place an emphasis on allowing us to be their “Accounting Muscle” while they focus on their day-to-day business operations.

We are known for our educational platform and endeavors. We hold budgeting seminars, investments seminars*, and tax seminars to alleviate the stigma most individuals face–not knowing how to properly manage money. We find that most millennials along with individuals in rural areas may not have access to these types of financial services literature. Therefore, it is imperative we reach them.; EACH ONE TEACH ONE!

We are most proud of how we have been afforded the opportunity to impact and re-direct others towards financial well-being. We have developed an accountability platform in which we mentor as well as guide our clients in that aspect. We are also proud and humbled by the recognition we have attained as a company. We have been bestowed with a few noteworthy accomplishments this past year. For 2016, we were named one of the Top 50 Professionals nationwide by TaxBuzz. TaxBuzz is a national Accounting and Tax Professionals directory, sort of like Google for our industry. We were also named a Top 20 Bookkeeping firm by Expertise.com. These (accomplishments) were so gratifying to know that our hard work has gained recognition.

What sets us apart from others in the industry is that we are reachable. Our clients can call and speak with us one-on-one and get in-depth answers. We do not only offer a service-based, crunching-the-numbers billable transaction. We educate and empower others to feel confident in their financial matters. We set objectives for each of our clients. Providing these services has really helped us to measure the holistic financial platform we have in place and its effectiveness.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or are planning for any big changes?
Our future is so exciting, it is what keeps us up at night! One main project we are working on is expanding throughout Houston and its surrounding areas. We are also looking to expand our footprint out of state. One location (we are exploring is) in my hometown of Los Angeles, CA and another location in our hometown of Amite, LA. We have had tremendous support in both states from family, friends, and their referrals. We want to offer a year-round, permanent presence for our clients. We also have another business venture with family in Louisiana that we are about to embark on.

We have just expanded our offerings to include Financial Services* and we are over the moon about that! We are now able to assist clients with deriving a Financial Plan*. This includes but is not limited to retirement, saving for college, setting up trusts for family, obtaining health and life insurance, and even investing* in the stock market. As tax professionals, we have the unique expertise in tailoring investments while considering the tax implications—The best of both worlds!

We have some other exciting ventures that are being birthed. We want to keep them under wraps for now, but it will be something that will impact our clients and the community. Stay Tuned! Planned launch Early Spring 2018.

In all that we do, our goal is to expand the Kingdom. We are strategic and obedient to what we decide to pursue. Our goal is to show you what we offer; to deliver stellar service time and time again. When we reach our goal, we gain your trust and earn your respect. As a result, when you need Accounting, Tax, or Investment Services *, you will always Seek Ye First, Kingdom Group Financial.

Tiffany Franklin, *Securities offered through H.D. Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member SIPC, 6333 N. State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, 972-870-6000. Kingdom Group Financial is not a registered broker/dealer or registered investment advisory firm.

Pricing:

• Basic Tax Estimate-FREE
• Basic Investments* Consultation (30min)-FREE
• Basic Accounting Consultation (15 min)-FREE

Contact Info:

• Address: 13700 Veterans Memorial Dr.
  Houston, TX 77014
• Website: www.seekyethekingdom.com
• Phone: 713-826-7943/ 877-543-7767
• Email: info@seekyethekingdom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomgroupfinancial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingdomGroupFinancial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kingdomgrpfinan
• Other: https://www.taxbuzz.com/find-the-best-tax-preparer/texas/houston/tiffany-franklin-tax-preparation/skills

Image Credit:
Chris Hernandez Photo, Hippocampus Production

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