What people see sometimes isn’t the whole story—as the old saying goes “you can’t judge a book by the cover.” I believe what we are today, is the result of obstacles we’ve overcome and the failures that we’ve experienced. Without these challenges in life, we may never really grow as a person.

When Ginny and I started the Chillicothe Hometown Voice, the first person to jump at the chance of advertising was Matt Kenady from the Edward Jones office on Second Street in Chillicothe. We were giving a presentation at a Chamber of Commerce business after hours and Matt quickly said he wanted to support this publication. This was the first time I had met Matt, but I soon learned that he is involved in the community and rarely misses a Chamber of Commerce event. He usually dresses business casual, is quiet, and smiles courteously to those around him. But there’s more to Matt than meets the eye.

Matt grew up in a farm community in Lima, IL which is North of Quincy. He fondly remembers being eight years old and working with his grandpa mowing grass in the cemetery to earn a little money. As many people know, being raised on a farm means you’re comfortable with hard work, animals, and machinery. Matt is no exception to this rule. As a teenager, he borrowed a friend’s bailer, and then bailed straw and sold it for some extra money. To further his knowledge, he went to college at Western Illinois University in Macomb. 

As an adult, he found himself with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driving big rigs and hauling pigs for a couple of years. Matt ultimately ended up working in the agriculture business with grain and corn until he decided to enter the financial business. Entering the financial business isn’t easy and it takes a lot of testing to get legally certified to help people with their investments. Sometimes the failure rate for getting the proper certifications can reach as high as 50 percent. With his lovely wife’s support (Debbie), he overcame the obstacles and was successful in acquiring the needed accreditation to work in the financial business. He has won several awards over the past five years including the “Ted Jones Prospecting Award,” “Soar to Success Award,” “Edward Jones Sr. Founders Achievement Award,” “Ed Armstrong Achievement Award,” “Jim McKenzie Award,” and the “Frank Finnegan Award.”

Matt and Debbie have been married for 15 years and they live in Lacon. But he enjoys being a part of Chillicothe and recently purchased his building on 2nd Street. He’s invested in the community and is not going anywhere. Matt is a member of the Chillicothe Optimist Club and the Henry Rotary Club. He still has his farm roots and told me that in the summers he gets to enjoy a hobby of his. He enters tractor pulls with a modified farm tractor, pulling in the “Modified Farm Class.” So, this quiet office guy still climbs on a tractor and knows how to make it scream as he pulls the sled to the finish line under the watchful eyes of the cheering crowds and envious men. 

I enjoyed talking with Matt and I found him to be more than just a quiet well-mannered businessman. He’s honest and advises people accordingly, he also has the courage to farm, the ability to drive semi-trucks, is a faithful husband, and can work on large engines. But, most importantly has the ability to overcome obstacles that make change difficult. He followed his dreams and went outside of his comfort zone to better himself. With his diverse knowledge and experiences, I think he’s an asset to the Chillicothe community. If you find yourself looking for some friendly advice about your financial portfolio, give Matt a call. This guy might have some answers that can help you look into the future, too.