My dream as a child was to become a secret agent or a stockbroker like my dad. I learned early on I was more like my dad than the characters from the 1984 movie “Cloak and Dagger.” Our minds work in similar ways; we have the same mannerisms and even similar handwriting. This Father’s Day, I’m reflecting on words of wisdom from my dad, the advice I share with my kids and how it’s evolved into providing my clients with a customized financial roadmap that helps them reach their goals.
Plan First, Invest Second
My father taught me the importance of having a plan. Before you do anything, like buy a car or a house, determine your needs, research your options and put a plan in place. In 2013, after spending ten years in the banking industry, I joined my father’s company and witnessed first-hand his philosophy and how he put it into practice with his clients. After taking over the company, we use the same “plan first, invest second” approach. Our focus is on walking clients through a goal-oriented process to create a customized financial roadmap. We also make sure they understand what is happening with their money. As advisors, we are independent and free of outside influences, so you can trust we will put your needs first, at all times, in every decision.
Never Underestimate Human Ingenuity
One of my father’s favorite pieces of advice is - never underestimate human ingenuity. Growing up, I heard my father say this again and again. He was always telling me to only worry about what I could control. This is advice I put into practice every day with my clients. We don’t want our clients to worry and check the markets five times a day. The plans we create are built to withstand a market swing.
Be a Good Listener
Listening is a big part of what we do. One piece of advice I wish I would have learned earlier is to listen more. When I was younger, I wanted to do things my way and didn’t listen to the advice of others. By listening to others, you can learn a new or better way of doing something. We’re successful because our clients feel heard and are engaged in the process. We keep the lines of communication open. Financial decisions can be very confusing and overwhelming. Clients trust us because we make sure they understand everything we are doing.
Do What You Do Best and Hire the Rest
The lesson I want to teach my children over time is: don’t waste time and energy on tasks you don’t like doing or don’t know how to do; ask for help or work with a professional. The result when working with an expert in the field is a lot less stress and more time spent on the things you enjoy doing. You don’t have to worry about your finances when you work with us. All of our investment research is done in-house. We use our own models, review accounts every day and rebalance quarterly.
I carry my dad’s wisdom with me when I work with each client. If you would like to learn about our process and how we can help with your overall retirement plan, contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Happy Father’s Day to my fellow dads!