TGM Classic | Shirl Penney | Living the American Dream

Dec 29, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

How does one go from financial struggle to creating a platform worth nearly $100 billion?

This question encapsulates the extraordinary journey of Shirl Penney, founder, president, and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners. Beginning in rural Maine where financial stability was difficult to come by, his story is one of grit and determination.

Although Shirl had to overcome early hardships, his desire for education and self-improvement led him to prestigious institutions and eventually to the competitive world of finance. Having navigated and overcome numerous obstacles led to the establishment of Dynasty Financial Partners, a firm he founded with resilience and an innovative mindset.

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius is joined by Shirl Penney to share his compelling journey from the financial struggles of his upbringing in rural Maine to building a financial empire managing nearly $100 billion in assets. The conversation delves into the challenges he faced, the pivotal moments that shaped his career, and the innovative strategies he employed to revolutionize the wealth management industry. Shirl also discusses the importance of resilience, leadership, and maintaining a clear vision in the pursuit of success.

Topics include:

Shirl looks back at being homeless to founding Dynasty Financial Partners
Improving financial literacy and providing independent financial advice
The origin and motivation behind the creation of Dynasty Financial Partners
The impact of Shirl’s upbringing and experiences on his approach to business
The value of maintaining a strong corporate culture and significant growth
And other topics…

Connect with Shirl:

Website: https://dynastyfinancialpartners.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirlpenney

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices