Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My father, without question, has always been my biggest role model. He started his career serving his country as a flight surgeon in the US Navy, where he met my mother. As a physician, my father has dedicated his life to the healing and care of his patients. With him having practiced medicine in the Palm Beach area since ’97, you can’t go anywhere in town without running into one of his patients singing his praises. Since I was young, I’ve admired his ability to help others and have strived to replicate that in my own way. Above that, he has been the best father, husband, brother and friend that anyone could ask for. He places others’ needs ahead of his own, going above and beyond for those he loves; is generous in every way; and is always there when you need him. He’s provided my sister and me with every opportunity in life to succeed while loving my mother every step of the way. I am so proud to be his son.
What inspired you to join Bernstein?
Along with the firm’s long and prestigious history, the thing that attracted me above all was the way Bernstein treats its clients. Each relationship starts with discovering a deep understanding of what matters most to the client. From there, we provide them with dedicated expertise in helping them plan to reach their goals. I know that our clients will always be provided with the most advanced thinking and best advice. With an investment platform that has been cultivated to be all-encompassing, and a stringent due diligence process, our clients can rest assured that their money is going to work for them. Bernstein’s culture is supportive of not only its clients but also its employees and the greater community. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
How have your values and personal background distinctly positioned you to work with your clients?
Being raised by two US Navy Commanders, I inherited a foundation of hard work, integrity, kindness and service to others. These values shaped my character and guide my professional endeavors today. Sports taught me the importance of teamwork, equating trust with reliance on others to fulfill their duties. In my role as an advisor, trust is paramount. Clients confide in me, and I reciprocate by upholding my core values.
I discovered my passion for finance and economics at a young age and knew I wanted to be an advisor. Through my studies, I realized my true strength lies in my ability to understand and relate to others’ needs. This led me to pursue a career in private client wealth management. Building relationships and earning trust came naturally to me, but I realized that to serve clients to the best of my abilities, I needed to obtain a deeper technical expertise. This led me to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a prestigious distinction in the investment management profession. This achievement did not come easy, but I learned to think more analytically. Having turned a weakness into a strength, I can now serve my clients in a distinct way. Trust is everything in our business—it is the single biggest compliment our clients can give us. I feel humbled and honored that people come to me for advice. Success, in my eyes, is when clients trust me enough to ask for advice beyond investment management.