What inspired you to join Bernstein?
As a lifelong learner, I was drawn to the fact that Bernstein is first and foremost a research firm. The drive to acquire, apply and share distinctive knowledge permeates the organization and can be seen in everything we do. Having acquired my Certified Private Wealth Advisor designation, I desired to put this academic knowledge into practice and began searching for top planning firms that sought to differentiate themselves by addressing the financial complexities that accompany the lives of high- and ultrahigh-net-worth clients.
Beyond this, the ethics and strong internal culture here were apparent in my interviews and drew me in. It was important to me to be surrounded by motivated individuals who were driven to succeed and grow, not just for themselves but for the benefit of others. The cultural bias toward investing in one another and always acting in the best interest of those we serve continues to inspire me.
Which book had the most profound impact on you and why?
A college reading of Jared Diamond’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies heavily informed how I would go on to think through the world around me. This historical account of human history, written through the eyes of an evolutionary biologist, explored the connective tissue between outcomes and the resources, geography, biological diversity and optionality that created them. The interdisciplinary approach furthered my interest in understanding not only the “why” but also the reason those “whys” existed. Since then, I find myself continually drawn toward opportunities to unwind complex problems into individual threads, exploring the intersection between the quantitative and qualitative factors that shaped them.
This is how we approach wealth management at Bernstein. At its core, we attempt to find bespoke solutions that combine the unique drives and ambitions of our clients with research-based approaches to tax planning, portfolio management and intergenerational wealth.
What’s the best way for people to put their wealth in perspective?
To me, the answer to this always starts with self-reflection. As a creator or inheritor of wealth, what do I prioritize in life? What are my concerns? What are the core values that I want to see this wealth align with? And lastly, who is impacted by the decisions I will make, and how do I want to think about the role of those stakeholders in the decision-making process?
Exploring these questions helps to build a perspective on wealth for you and your family. This alignment of personal goals and values also provides the framework through which you can evaluate the success of your financial plan. Wealth encompasses so much more than simply a number, and I am proud to be at an organization that recognizes the importance of exploring these questions not as checkboxes on the road to investing but as the cornerstone on which we build holistic wealth plans for our clients.