Why did you choose Bernstein to grow your career?
When I first sat down with the Bernstein team, I didn’t feel like I was being recruited—I felt like I was being vetted. And I respected that. The firm is deeply selective about who they bring on board—not because of pedigree or production, but because of values. They cared about how I thought, how I handled pressure and whether I would put clients first. That level of discernment said everything.
At most firms, the first question to clients is “How much do you have?” At Bernstein, it’s “What’s the money for?” That shift in focus—from accumulation to alignment—is what makes this place different. We operate with the belief that wealth has a purpose beyond preservation or growth. Whether it’s supporting your family, transitioning a business or leaving a legacy, we focus on making sure your money is doing what it’s supposed to do.
How have your values and personal background specifically positioned you to work with your clients?
I’m not from Wall Street—and I think that’s what makes me different. I spent 20 years in the Army as a pilot and leader in the most elite special ops aviation unit in the world. My entire adult life has been spent leading others through pressure. I’ve quite literally been under fire, and still was counted on to lead people to safety as the bullets are flying. Life, in many ways, isn’t so different—it’s a constant, shifting storm. What my practice has found is that wealth doesn’t protect people from the stress of these storms—it amplifies it. That’s where I come in.
What I offer my clients goes far beyond technical skill or market insight. I bring clarity, calm and care when life gets chaotic. I’m the one thinking about your family’s future when you’re buried in the day-to-day.
My background taught me a few things that resonate with my clients: Don’t make promises I can’t keep. Never pretend to have all the answers—but move heaven and Earth to find them. And if I say I’m going to do something, I will. That was the standard in the teams I led in the military, and it’s the standard I hold myself to still. I believe deeply that this work is about trust, integrity and building relationships that last over decades. This isn’t a transaction. It’s a long-term mission—and I take it very seriously.
Which book had the most profound impact on you and why?
I read “The Last Lecture” soon after my dad’s sudden passing in 2023, and it nearly broke me open—but in the best way possible. Randy Pausch’s reflections as a father writing for his kids in his final days made me think about what my own children will remember from our time together. It made me ask: Am I teaching them the right things? Do they know what I stand for? What values will they take from me? Am I present in both the big and small moments in their lives?
In a world obsessed with personal success, this book reminded me that the greatest legacy isn’t financial—it’s emotional. It’s how we make people feel, and what they’ll carry with them long after we’re gone. Memories compound with time: they gain value the longer we hold them—long after the people who gave them to us are gone. This book hit me right in the feels at the right time.