What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
Initially, I wasn’t sure about Bernstein. I joined the firm after working for a much smaller one. Yet, what changed my mind was meeting my brilliant colleagues who immediately made me feel welcome and at home. There were almost too many talented people to count! Also, the caliber of their intellect was immediately evident from the quality of their research, which is a huge benefit to me and my clients. However, Bernstein’s biggest selling point is our moral compass. It is demonstrated by how we treat our clients, the equality between colleagues and the diversity among the professionals we hire. This is the ultimate strength and one that should be celebrated daily.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
Outside of the office, my passions are family, international politics, theater, golf and philanthropy. Now that my boys are away at university, my wife and I are able to attend theater productions more often. As an empty-nester, I can also play more golf, which is great! Still, the glue that holds my family and me together is helping others who are less fortunate than us. To contribute, I’ve enjoyed serving on a number of charitable boards in my community. Finally, having traveled extensively around the world for business and pleasure, I enjoy studying other cultures, their people, and the role we as Americans play in global politics and business.
Tell me about the types of clients you work with.
My clients are successful and smart people who have worked hard for their wealth. They want to grow and preserve their wealth for their own benefit, but also as a benevolent gesture to support their children and the charities they support. Many of my clients are business owners and others reside outside of the United States, which is a perfect match for my personality as I thrive studying other cultures. The common link among my clients is their passion for the arts and philanthropic inclinations. They particularly like paintings, sculptures, music, theater and poetry. They are passionate about supporting the arts, which is something we bond over. Like myself, many are also deeply interested in the world around them. This ranges from those who live stateside and want to learn more about global affairs to clients who live abroad and study how the States operates. All in all, my clients are fascinated by the financial markets.