What’s the best way for people to put their wealth in perspective?
The best way I put wealth into perspective to my clients is to remind them that everyone’s wealth journey is different, and there truly is no one size that fits all. They have had a completely unique life journey, and their goals, priorities and values are going to be different. Don’t fall into the trap that you have to do certain things or be constantly benchmarking yourself to other individuals that might be on a different path. It's my job to become a trusted advisor and confidant that my clients can lean on for not only financial help, but outside of finances as well. I strive to become a part of my clients’ inner circle of trust and someone they can depend on every day and in every situation.
What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
Culture is one of those funny things that when you ask people what their favorite part of their company is and they say “culture,” you might give a semi eyeroll. However, culture really is what makes or breaks any company. It’s something that is extremely hard to measure, and until you’re inside a company to experience it firsthand, you don’t truly know what the culture is going to look like. I can confidently and honestly say that the culture here at Bernstein is everything and some. As someone coming from outside the industry with no connections or prior knowledge, I knew that I would need to join a firm that would allow me to lean on and learn from others to advance my career. I receive mentorship on an ongoing basis from numerous accomplished advisors at the firm across the country and have benefited firsthand from the collaborative culture at Bernstein where I can utilize the deep bench of talented colleagues and resources.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
My biggest passion and where I spend most of my time outside of work is running and marathon training. As a former college baseball player, I never imagined I would run a marathon, let alone further than from the dugout to the mound. Once it was time to hang up my cleats, I was searching for ways to stay not only active, but competitive as well, and I heard from many former teammates that running was a great way to escape mentally. As I gave running a shot, progressed and started going a little bit further and faster, the next natural step was to give running a marathon a shot. The greatest part of competing in a marathon is not only competing with the men and women alongside you but discovering that the greatest competition is with yourself. At the end of the day, no one is forcing you to keep going, so for three to four hours, only you can keep yourself going and motivated. Crossing that finish line is like no other and one that never gets old.