After graduating from Orchard in 2000, David Hamilton followed a path that took him through Indiana University, Harvard Law School, and eventually into the worlds of law, sports agency, and financial consulting. This year, he launched Hamilton Wealth, a firm focused on helping families and businesses grow and protect generational wealth through personalized financial planning and investment strategy. Prior to starting his own company, he worked as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual.

He also founded Hoosier Phenoms, one of the top AAU basketball programs in the country. The team has won three national championships and is known for its strong focus on mentorship. David continues to make an impact both on and off the court, crediting the values he first discovered at Orchard.

We caught up with David to talk about launching his firm and the lessons he's learned along the way.

What inspired you to start Hamilton Wealth, and what sets it apart from other firms?
I started Hamilton Wealth based on the feedback that I gathered from our clients over the years. They were tired of the traditional wealth management firms. They were tired of having the same conversations every year with their financial advisors. They wanted real guidance. They wanted a real partnership. They wanted a real strategy. They wanted a game plan to minimize taxes each year because they understand that was their number one expense and their number one pain point.

What lessons from your career in law and sports management, plus your time at Harvard, have shaped the way you lead your company today?
My career in the law taught me how to think. It taught me how to see things from both sides. It taught me how to evaluate the pros and cons of every situation. My career in sports management taught me the importance of building meaningful relationships. I was guiding young men in their twenties who were making the most important career decisions of their lives. They needed to know that they could trust me and that I would always have their best interest at heart. Harvard was an amazing experience. It taught me to think bigger and that there is no limit to what you can accomplish. I try to use all those lessons to help me lead my firm today. Whether it’s with our team or with our clients, I try to develop relationships where the other person knows that I will always look out for them and guide them the best way I know how.

You’ve been involved in basketball your whole life—as a player, NBA agent, and founder of Hoosier Phenoms. How has that experience influenced your approach to leadership and mentorship?
I see life through basketball. Basketball has taught me the importance of team. I can’t win unless you win. Your goal is my goal. I’m willing to sacrifice to make sure we are all successful. That’s the lens that I see everything through. As a leader and as I mentor, I have to make sure that you know that I’m all in on you. I’m all in on your success. Once you understand that, the sky is the limit for what we can accomplish together.

Do you remember a moment at Orchard that shaped your love of problem-solving or helped you see yourself as a leader?
I loved math as a kid. I still do. I remember doing brain teasers as early as first and second grade at Orchard. It made you pause and think differently. And it’s a skill that I think is super valuable today. Orchard forces you to be a leader from an early age. I remember in 4th grade doing Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the entire school. Those types of experiences show you that you have the courage to do anything. I love how Orchard teaches public speaking at a very young age. It really equips you to be able to speak up for yourself and ask for what you want out of life.

Continue to dream big. And it’s okay if your dream changes. That’s normal. Just remember you have the power to do something amazing. Everything that you are doing now is leading you to where you ultimately need to be.