What inspired you to join Bernstein?
A newlywed husband to my wife who was starting medical school, I sought a career that would enable me to do meaningful work while supporting my future family. Wealth management afforded me the opportunity to marry my passion for finance and the markets with my desire to help people. Founded by a paragon of munificence and renowned for its nonpareil research, Bernstein was and is a firm of value and values. As excited as I was when I joined at 21, more than 2 decades and 4 children later, the firm has never ceased to exceed my expectations: in the quality of its work, the dedication of its employees, and the warmth and geniality of its culture.
What differentiates you from other advisors?
My career as a financial advisor will be bookended by my next 20+ years at the firm and the 20+ years I’ve spent here thus far. I began as an associate and then served as an analyst and consultant to Bernstein’s advisors, during which I honed my analytical skills for complex financial planning and my collaborative skills for optimizing the efficacy of a wealth-management team, composed of the client, the advisor, and the client’s other professionals. Since then, I have been fortunate to serve my own clients, both onshore and offshore, educating and advising them and their children.
Outside of work, my passions are tennis, music, philanthropy, and, of course, my family. A former college tennis athlete, I enjoy Sunday-afternoon rallies with my wife and kids and attending the US Open. Since composing songs in college and proposing to my wife with an original, music and singing have made our home one of perpetual harmony, where I can often be found sitting at the piano, playing by ear.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of being an advisor to your clients?
The most fulfilling aspect of being a financial advisor is having a relationship with my clients that extends far beyond their finances; I essentially serve as their concierge. Of course, I help them plan for multi-generational financial stability and security: that is a given. However, the ability to make a difference in my clients’ lives – arranging their parents’ private international emergency medical transportation, finding their children a spousal match; advising their children on career paths and connecting them with employers; and helping them maximize the impact of their eleemosynary contributions in their communities and throughout the world – is the fuel of meaning, excitement, and enjoyment that has propelled me in my role throughout the years.