the Fıeld
A Visit With Agents of Change
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Scott Thompson found success by believing in himself. Now he encourages other advisors to do the same. E BY S U S A N R U P
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InsuranceNewsNet Magazine » August 2022
hen you see Scott Thompson on stage speaking at a Million Dollar Round Table event, you would have a difficult time believing he once was a shy kid. Thompson is a financial advisor based in Oakmont, Pa. During his high school days in Florida, Thompson found that performing in plays helped him overcome his bashfulness and allowed him to bask in the spotlight. But his father, who spent much of his life in the U.S. Air Force, had other ideas for his son. He hoped his son would follow his footsteps into a military career. “I had all the nominations lined up for the U.S. Air Force Academy. But then, I finally said, ‘Nope. I don’t want to fly a plane. I want to be an actor.’” Thompson said his father wasn’t happy with the decision but supported it the best he could. After two years studying theater at a junior college in Florida, Thompson moved to California to study at San Francisco State University. An acting teacher gave him some advice that would change his career direction. “The teacher told me point blank, ‘In today’s day and age, you need to be what they call a triple threat. You have to be able to sing, dance and act.’ I was OK on acting. I could dance. But I could not sing. So my teacher asked me, ‘Why don’t you learn theater technology?’ And that’s when I learned stage lighting and design.” After graduating from college, Thompson returned to Florida and married his high school sweetheart, Dottie, who is a singer. “We did a lot of local community theater, but I had to get a real job,” he recalled. He and Dottie formed an entertainment company called Side by Side Entertainment that provided music for weddings and other special events. Dottie sang while he worked as a DJ and master of ceremonies. He even led line dances and other wedding dances for the crowd. Thompson also worked for an appliance retailer during this time. But when he injured his back while delivering a washer and dryer, he decided it was time to find a career that was less physical.
