What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
The people! There is no doubt about it, Bernstein is full of insightful and diverse individuals that are all motivated to help each other grow. The people are also what has kept me here and why I continue to grow my career here.
My colleagues have made a huge impact on my fast growth throughout the firm. I started here at Bernstein as an intern while I was finishing up my degree at the University of Washington. I still remember my first few times witnessing the close connections our Advisors had with their clients—I knew I wanted that; I wanted to be an Advisor, and to create my own client relationships. Since my early days as an intern, I have partnered with our Advisors as an Associate, I then moved into the Manager role where I oversaw the Associate group in Seattle and San Diego, and most recently, I moved into a Wealth Advisor role. I am now dedicated to forging those trusted relationships with my own clients, the dream that I had as an intern. In many ways, Bernstein has become my second home and I would not change that for the world.
What’s the best way for people to put their wealth in perspective?
I believe starting a vulnerable conversation around clients’ wealth and goals is the initial starting point for putting their wealth in perspective. In our business, we find that many of our clients have never had a deep conversation around their wealth. That’s the first thing we do.
At Bernstein, we like to break down those walls and truly understand each client’s unique needs, desires and fears. By starting this open conversation, we can utilize our tools to drive for a better outcome for that client and most importantly, establish trust with them. The trust we build with our clients is the foundation to building their generational wealth and the confidence that comes with it.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
One of my greatest passions is cooking. I am passionate about trying new recipes in my spare time. I believe that food is the center of some of the most important moments in life. Sharing a meal leads to openness, learning about one another, and building relationships. I enjoy making a meal and bringing the people that are most important to me together.
I am also quite passionate about travel. Many years ago, my now-husband and I backpacked around Europe for over a month. Experiencing the new cultures, cuisines and landscapes of all the countries we visited left us wanting more. Since then, we have made a goal to make one trip a year focused on experiencing a new culture. From tasting coffee in Costa Rica’s cloud forests to drinking a glass of Chianti in the vineyards in Tuscany, experiencing cultures and cuisines is an ongoing passion I continue to be hungry for.