What were some of your favorite memories at UT Martin and UT Knoxville?

At UT Martin, I had some great professors like Dr. Robinson in animal science and Dr. Counts with soils and agronomy. Originally, I wanted to be an agricultural engineer, but I decided on a different path after joining the national agricultural fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR). The relationships I forged through AGR still last to this day. I visited AGR at the Knoxville campus, and my fraternity brother there, Larry McCraney, sold me on the idea of transferring to Knoxville. Once I was a student in Knoxville, E.R. “Prof” Lidvall became my mentor and had a huge impact upon me. He actually had lunch with me at least once a month after I graduated while I was working in Knoxville. So, the relationships I had at both campuses were key to my college and working careers.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since graduating?

Foster and continue to build relationships. Relationships are everything. And continue to grow professionally. Get the education you need to be a professional in what you do. And I’m a great believer in teams. Teams can accomplish so much more than an individual. Remember that you’re not entitled to anything until you first create value in some way.

Please tell us about the Bob and Debbie Sinclair Financial Excellence Endowment at UTIA.

I’ve been in financial planning services for forty-eight years now. I’ve seen a lot of successful people, and I’ve seen a lot of people who made bad decisions with their money. There’s a common denominator among successful people, and it’s that they make smart choices with their money.

So, Debbie and I were at the Together We Grow campaign kickoff, and we came across a 4-H booth. They had an iPad there that showed students the cost considerations for different scenarios, like buying a car. And we were really intrigued by this, because financial wellness isn’t really taught in schools. We thought, how can we provide resources to help teach and train youth to make smart choices with their money? So, the endowment is just our way of trying to give back to others so they can hopefully make smart choices with their money.

What makes you want to give back to the community?

Debbie and I have been so incredibly blessed, and we believe in the verse, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Debbie and I enjoy giving to causes that we feel are a high priority. We enjoy giving to causes that take action. To us, giving is a calling. We feel called to make a difference in other people’s lives.