For Matt Dyal, a career in banking wasn’t always part of the plan. Starting out as a youth pastor in Starke, Dyal made a significant career change over a decade ago when he joined Capital City Bank.
The financial advisor explained his career path recently to the Keystone Heights Rotary Club, and the organization summarized his talk in a social media post.
Initially, he viewed his first role at the bank as just a job. “It was time to do something different,” Dyal said. “When I started at the bank, I really thought it was a job until I found out what was next. But something happened along the way. I found it was a great place to work, an opportunity to grow a career. And so here I am 10 years later doing something that I was not hired to do.”
He began as a teller, a position that many would consider an entry-level role, before rising through the ranks to become a lead teller and then a teller manager. But after several years, he felt the pull to change his career again, this time without changing his employer.
“I decided I wanted to go in another direction and took a bunch of classes and learned a whole bunch of stuff about the investment side,” Dyal explained. Today, he’s the financial advisor for the Starke, Keystone, Palatka, and Hastings areas, helping clients manage and grow their wealth.
Middle school teacher sparked interest in stocks
Dyal’s interest in investments dates back to his middle school years, although it took a while for it to resurface in his professional life. “Whenever I was in eighth grade, I had one of those teachers in school who was more than just a teacher. They taught you a lot about life, and she had to fight to get me in her class,” Dyal recalled. “She taught me about the stock market because that’s what you learn in English class.”
In an English class far from the norm, Dyal participated in the stock market game, a program that allowed students to invest fake money in real stocks. “I took my fake money and I bought Microsoft, Nike, and Coca-Cola,” he said. “I finished in the top 10 of the state, and I thought, this is really cool. This is a lot of fun.” But despite his early success, Dyal initially pursued a different path as a youth pastor before his current role brought him full circle.
Encouraging some to save, and helping others leave a legacy
Today, Dyal’s work as a financial advisor allows him to combine his analytical skills with his desire to help others. “I help folks plan and prepare for growing their wealth,” he explained. “Whether that means retirement planning or you just have some money that you want to work for you, I’m able to help with that.”
One of his most rewarding experiences involves helping young people understand the power of investing early. He recounted a conversation with a 26-year-old who had some extra money and wasn’t sure what to do with it. “We talked about how a Roth IRA might be a great opportunity for him. You’ve already paid taxes on this money, you can put it in this market, you can invest it, and it’s going to grow tax-free.” Dyal said as he described the young man’s decision to start his investment journey early, something many in their twenties neglect to consider.
“That’s going to compound, and one day he’s going to retire. I’ll probably be dead and gone by the time that happens, but he’s going to live a comfortable lifestyle because he made some choices here as a 26-year-old that most 26-year-olds just don’t make.”
In addition to helping younger clients, Dyal also works with older individuals who are preparing to leave a legacy for their heirs. “A lot of the times I get to help people who are on the other end of that lifecycle,” he explained. “They’ve done all the things in life that they want to do, and now they have this money that they want to leave to their heirs. So, how do we keep that safe? How do we help it to continue to grow?” Dyal works closely with these clients to create personalized plans that reflect their individual goals and risk tolerance.
Professional obligation becomes personal passion
Beyond his professional life, Dyal has also made a significant impact in his community through his involvement with Rotary. “Rotary’s fun. I enjoy it a lot,” he said with a smile. A past president of the Starke Rotary club, Dyal has seen firsthand the positive impact that the organization has around the world. “Rotary’s a wonderful organization. We do a lot of good stuff around the world.” He joined Rotary initially as part of his commitment to community service, which is a requirement for many bank employees. “Working at a bank, one of the things that is required is a lot of community service. So I went out and I joined a bunch of different organizations,” Dyal explained. However, what started as a professional obligation quickly became a personal passion. “When I did it, I thought that Rotary would be the thing that was good for business, but not necessarily so much good for just my own enjoyment.”
Matt Dyal’s journey from a bank teller to a financial advisor and community leader reflects not only a successful career transition but also his commitment to serving others. Whether he’s helping clients grow their wealth or contributing to Rotary’s global initiatives, Dyal’s focus remains on making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. “In a nutshell, that’s kind of what I do,” he said, humbly summarizing his multifaceted role.
