When a Risk Taker Marries a Planner

By Cindy Rayfield

Randy and Charity were rethinking their careers.

But, they were ready to do something different. After several years of doing stressful and time-consuming jobs in Colorado Springs, now was the time.

Charity, the risk taker of the two, knew that investing was the path they should take to give them cash flow. That would allow them to eventually replace their jobs one day.

The Risk Taker

An avid reader and researcher, Charity (the risk taker) had been a trauma therapist for over 20 years. She was a director at a psychiatric hospital and worked with victimized women. Stress was an everyday occurrence. Stress for her patients, and stress for her.

Early into their marriage, Charity put Randy and herself in a great cash flow position with real estate and alternative investing.

Randy explains, “Charity is definitely the risk taker in the relationship, but her research is always sound and does reassure me that we are making well informed decisions.”

To begin their investment journey, they turned one of their previous residences in Colorado Springs into a rental property.

But they still had their steady jobs for cash flow, and security.

The Planner

Randy (the planner) spent 10 years as a Deputy Sheriff in El Paso County, and later transitioned to IT for the next two decades. Strapped to a desk was starting to feel like a life sentence.

This wasn’t what he envisioned for the future.

Their other interests took them outside of the normal 9 to 5 – Target Shooting, Interactive Gaming, Ballroom Dancing, Hiking, Sports, Working Out. Freedom was the goal so they could do all these things and take their next big step – start a family.

Basically, they wanted more – they wanted their time back.

That’s when they started looking at business ownership.

Cash Flow, Equity and Freedom

Both Randy and Charity wanted what a business could give them – cash flow, equity and freedom. Charity put on her research hat and dug in.

Using her in depth research skills (and bringing Randy along for the ride), she started thinking about what businesses would do well in their hometown.

They both knew they were people oriented and wanted to impact their community in a positive way. After COVID, they wanted people to come out and enjoy themselves and they wanted to do that too.

Charity already had extensive experience in running a business, as well as experience in the restaurant industry, and Randy had years of management skills. Combining their strengths would be key for them in running a business.

Charity explained, “Having invested in residential real estate, we now felt we should look for other investment opportunities to help diversify our portfolio. Owning several businesses would also allow us to transition to owners with more flexibility and freedom than we currently have.”

How would they find the right business? That was the next step.

The Connection

Randy remembered a connection he had. He went to high school with Cindy Rayfield, a franchise broker with the firm, IFPG. He found an old email from Cindy, and out of the blue, called her to find out how this whole franchise thing worked.

“After going through the screening and research process with Cindy, we found several franchises that deeply interested us. We finally selected two separate franchises and purchased six licenses. We couldn’t pick just one! We believe we selected the best possible combination for us,” recalled Randy.

The choice was tough, but they settled on two healthy food concepts – an Acia Bowl superfood franchise, and a growth concept in popular Asian fast food.

Agressive Plans

Their plans are aggressive. But the risk taker in Charity also knows how to roll up her sleeves and get things done. Randy, the planner, has their goals already set.

“In three years we expect to have four stores open and running. By five years we should have a minimum of six locations open in Colorado Springs. Our 10-year goal is to have 10 businesses and 15 residential properties. We also are hoping to have 3 children by then! Owning our own businesses, and our future, will allow us the flexibility and freedom to be better parents.”

Colorado Springs will be welcoming a powerhouse duo and some great food concepts to their fast-growing community!