What inspired you to join Bernstein?
I joined Bernstein shortly after my wife gave birth to our second of three sons, when we also made the decision to relocate our lives from New York City to Houston. As an advisor, I would strongly advise against making that drive with two young kids in tow! I was also leaving behind an ascending 10+ year career at Citi Private Bank and coming onboard smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. To say that I had some nerves is an understatement, but what allayed that apprehension was the passion that my now-colleagues displayed. What sets Bernstein apart in my view is that we are a firm that values people over product. This is not to diminish our investment platform, which is stellar, but to highlight that we strive to be different in an industry that has become very much the same. Our positioning is to be a client’s outsourced family office in which they will feel a differentiated approach cohesively designed to meet their specific goals and values.
How have your values and personal background distinctly positioned you to work with your clients?
On my wedding night, as my wife Kenya and I celebrated with our closest family and friends on the beach in Jamaica, my oldest brother by seven years made a statement in his speech that has resonated with me to this day. He said that I was “the older brother he never had.” This subtle compliment was one of the best I had ever received. Throughout my life, I have always prided myself on being someone that those around me could depend on and come to for perspective and understanding. I value thought before action and strive to be a voice of calm and clarity, especially when circumstances get more complex. I have been very blessed in my life to be surrounded by amazing people who have loved me and challenged me and continue to shape the person that I am today. I carry this foundation through to my role as an advisor and will always provide my clients with a clear, honest and genuine perspective.
Which book had the most profound impact on you and why?
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
As I was growing up, I watched as each of my grandmothers battled with cognitive disorders. I didn't fully appreciate the toll that dementia and Alzheimer’s had on them and on my parents until I was much older. I now understand how precious our minds and memories are. My childhood experiences with these horrible disorders have led to a passion to better understand how we think, make choices, form memories, develop biases and so on. I also realize that someday I may face cognitive issues of my own, so I am always striving to find ways to utilize my mind to its fullest capacity. This book touches on all these aspects and provides great insight into the amazing gift that is our mind.