What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
There is a sign inside The Palestra, a historical arena in Pennsylvania nicknamed the Cathedral of College Basketball. It reads, “To win the game is great, to play the game is greater, but to love the game is greatest of all.” This quote resonates with me as a Hoosier at heart who hails from Bloomington, Indiana, and still plays in a biweekly morning pick-up basketball game. (Despite waning athleticism.) This quote also applies to how I feel about Bernstein. WIN: I cherish the opportunity to earn the trust and confidence of a new client relationship for the firm. PLAY: I am grateful to do that at a firm that has dedicated countless resources to my development and prioritizes initiatives like diversity and inclusion, corporate responsibility and client-focused innovation. LOVE: Moreover, I love my job because I get to do what I am good at, and passionate about, with people that I care about.
What is most fulfilling aspect of being an advisor to your clients?
In all that I do, I am driven to be an integral and trusted teammate, play an active role in furthering the interests of those I serve and work collectively to realize their objectives. I focus my energy on building relationships and going above and beyond the call of duty to support my team. Additionally, I embrace any challenges that present themselves. I am motivated to do whatever it takes, with integrity, to achieve the objective at hand.
This translates to my personal fulfillment at Bernstein by way of leading my clients’ team of professional advisors. My success as an advisor, and leader, is predicated on my ability to truly partner with clients and their respective professional advisors. There is nothing more gratifying to me than leading a group and working together, as a unit, to arrive at a meaningful outcome for my clients.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
As a former college athlete, I am always identifying opportunities to stay in shape, compete and connect with people over a good sweat. This is what I value most in life. If the sun is up, and it is over 45 degrees on an early weekend morning, it is very likely that you will find me on a golf course or driving range. While my golf game isn’t great, I enjoy the challenge of improving while sharing in some camaraderie (and healthy banter, of course) with my friends.
I am also a huge advocate of local food and beverage. I am quick to highlight my inability to cook, which is not to be confused with my tremendous ability to consume. I love calling Washington, DC, home for many reasons, including the vibrant restaurant, brewery and winery scenes. When traveling, I always make sure to seek out the “local joints” so I get the full experience. (And make sure not to count the calories!)