For me, it's always been about the clients.
You come to us with unique circumstances, a personal and legitimate perspective of the world and a series of opportunities and challenges that create the path that's your financial life.
My job these past 30 years has been to serve my clients and provide solutions that directly impact their lives. It's a responsibility I take to heart and the foundation of our business.
Communication is one of the most vital skills an advisor can have. At the core of any relationship is one's ability to communicate, which means not just doing the talking but also doing the listening. It means the things we must deal with are often outside the box – and that's okay; we're here to help.
Knowledge and experience are critical assets to an advisor. Experience takes time, and knowledge requires perseverance. Things never stand still, and while history rarely repeats itself, it often tries. I began my career in 1993 and have been through the Dot-com Bubble, Y2K, 9/11, the Great Recession, a handful of minor recessions, several interest rate cycles, and a pandemic. All it takes to know what you don't know is a few significant events. You quickly understand the key to riding through the challenges is knowing what happened, remembering what you didn't see coming and then going out and learning for the next one.
I've received my Branch Managers designation and completed the Officers, Partners, and Directors course. I've also earned the Certified Financial Planners designation, a Life Insurance license, and a Chartered Investment Manager designation. More than a list of letters after my name; it's a list of the work I've done to ensure I have the knowledge to deliver on my responsibilities to my clients and a way to temper and learn from the experiences I've been through.
Wealth management is a business of people first, then money; our objective is understanding both.
