How have your values and personal background uniquely positioned you to work with your clients?
As a stepmom to three teenagers, I recognize that all families are different. Each family has its own value set and ideas around legacy. I’m also acutely aware that the future is uncertain for all of us. Having lost one set of grandparents before they were 60, and being fortunate enough to have another set currently in their mid-90s, I understand that planning for all circumstances is vital. Therefore, I want to provide my clients with confidence that they will be taken care of financially in the future. As someone who has great reverence for my elders, I especially empathize with my clients who are planning for retirement, the gifting of wealth to future generations, and beyond.
What inspired you to join Bernstein?
From the outside looking in, it’s easy to think that the asset management industry has become commoditized. Only those who have truly examined the field through meticulous research can understand the difference between various money managers. This is why Bernstein stands out from the crowd: because of the firm’s conviction to always do what is in the best interest of our clients and our employees. We do what is RIGHT, and this mentality stands behind everything we do. After 50-plus years of growth, Bernstein is confident and comfortable in its own skin. We do not try to be what we’re not and therefore, where we have decided to devote our energy, we truly excel. In this era of consolidation and oversimplification, Bernstein is an outlier. This is why I’m proud to be here.
Which book had the most profound impact on you and why?
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is a historical fiction book that opened my eyes to the role that women played during World War II. While living in enemy-occupied France, a group of women risked their lives to support their country by developing an underground spy network. In researching their story, I was so inspired by these women who endured incredible hardships, such as having family members killed in the war and undergoing severe food shortages, and yet devoted themselves to making a difference. When faced with a challenge, they endured it and also, proactively, took on more so they could help others in similar situations. The strength with which these women reacted to adversity is something I try to emulate and embody in my daily life as a leader and an adviser.