What inspired you to join Bernstein?
After two decades in this business at traditional wealth management firms, I came to a conclusion: Too often these firms tried to make clients’ needs fit into their capabilities, as opposed to adapting to their needs. For wealthy and complex families, this just didn’t make a whole lot of sense. At Bernstein, I found something different...a firm that uses research and innovation to flip the equation for our clients’ benefit. Having built a global platform with our clients at the center, Bernstein provides solutions tailored to their unique circumstances and preferences. This includes different pricing approaches, investing styles and servicing models. Also, when we work with an individual, a multi-generational family, corporate executive or family office, we are just as diligent about understanding their specific circumstances and creating a customized response to fit their preferences. We are laser-focused on our clients and adapt to them.
What differentiates you from other advisors?
Many Advisors prefer to draw a professional line around the relationships they share with clients. There is nothing wrong with this classic style of advising that typically revolves around maintaining some “professional” separation in the name of boundaries. While it might be a bit riskier, in my case, I choose the opposite route. Putting in the time to create deep, personal relationships with my clients is critical to our success. And this does take time. Solving for my clients’ more obvious needs, such as investing for lifestyle and multigenerational planning, is the easier part of my job. That’s more about math and taking a disciplined approach. On the other hand, there is an art to really understanding and focusing on what matters to people and motivates them. As an advisor, I differentiate my practice by emphasizing those areas of my clients’ lives and looking for innovative ways to improve them.
What kind of experience do you offer to your clients?
I look at my client relationships as a partnership, which is the common thread throughout my Advisory practice. My clients have chosen to work with me, and I with them. I consider this an honor. By working together, we navigate the complexities of wealth, family dynamics and life in general. My clients expect to be treated well, cared about, and given the best possible advice. The only way I could really describe our relationship is that they feel like members of my own family...and that’s the only way I know how to do it. This does not mean that my team and I always get everything right, but it does mean that my clients know that everything we do is for the right reason.