What inspired you to join Bernstein?
I spent the bulk of my career in private wealth management as an employee at large financial institutions. While working at these firms, I began to have the sinking feeling that I was working at a “one-stop shop,” meaning many of the services we provided for clients were not up to snuff. After coming to this realization, I decided that I wanted to find an institution that had the benefits of a large, global firm, but was also singularly focused on managing client assets and creating better outcomes for them. Fortunately, not too long after, a boutique wealth management firm named Bernstein manifested itself, and I have stayed there ever since.
What differentiates you from other advisors?
I once asked a client who had interviewed a number of advisors, “Why did you specifically choose me?” Their response was, “I knew that when you woke up in the morning you’d be thinking about my family and the decisions we were facing and, most importantly, take them on as your own.” That heartfelt answer meant a great deal to me, and has stayed with me as a motivator ever since. I try to convey to every client that my role as an advisor is to make sense of, and empathize with, their fears and also what ignites the fire in their belly. Ultimately, I want to empower my clients to make educated financial decisions that will positively impact their lives—so they can live the best life possible. My clients are a part of my family, therefore, I take their complex issues and needs and treat them as if they were my own.
How have your values and personal background uniquely positioned you to work with your clients?
There is an old adage that goes, “Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.” Many of my clients are entrepreneurs and business owners. Having founded and run my own business for a number of years, I have walked in my clients’ shoes and have a deep understanding of what it’s like to run your own business. My entrepreneurial background combined with my private wealth management and personal finance expertise gives me the aptitude to tackle complex issues facing business owners and their families in order to create better results for their future. I can spot issues facing business owners that other advisors cannot simply because I have survived and thrived in this experience myself. My goal is to constantly look at my former life as a business owner to make my clients’ lives more enjoyable and carefree.