“I am not really motivated by money.”
It was 2016, and I was being interviewed by two people who had spent the last twenty years steeped in everything related to a dollar sign. Looking back, I realize that probably wasn’t exactly music to their ears. Then again, they had left a business purely motivated by money, venturing out on their own to create a place that would prioritize people, relationships, and independence. Maybe they hired me because I said that.
Or maybe they hired me in spite of it.
Either way, it was true—at least in the way I meant it. Money matters because of what it enables: freedom, security, generosity, and choices. But what has always motivated me most is pursuing excellence and adding value. I believed then (and still do) that when you stay focused on doing the right work the right way, financial success tends to follow.
I had just wrapped up a collegiate wrestling career spent chasing a national title while juggling the demands of a world-class university. Everything felt high-stakes, and my survival mechanism was simple: embrace challenge and tell myself, “Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.” Money wasn’t really part of the equation.
Graduating and leaving that world left a huge hole to fill. Luckily for me, I had inadvertently stepped into a career that filled it.
I still remember some of the first meetings where it became clear how important the work we do can be.
Couples preparing for retirement would sit down with us and—sometimes for the first time—see their financial life as a coordinated plan instead of a collection of accounts. In some cases, it was adjusting their investment mix, optimizing pension and Social Security decisions, or simply aligning spending with what they actually valued. The best part was watching their faces when the fog lifted and the possibilities widened. Some realized they could retire sooner than they expected. Others didn’t retire, but confidently left the job they couldn’t stand for a lower-paying role that brought them joy. Still others would leave their current life, moving to their dream home in their dream location with their dream dog to be closer to the people they loved.
Then there were the meetings with hardworking business owners who opened up about their fears around stepping away. I watched experienced, high-powered leaders literally sigh with relief when we mapped out a plan to leave on their terms. Some simply wanted out; others wanted to gradually ease out. Some wanted to ensure family members or key employees could step into ownership to continue the legacy. It is a unique privilege to help strike that balance—protecting the business’s health while also rewarding the founder for years of effort and risk.
And then there are the meetings where the focus shifts toward loved ones.
I can vividly remember one conversation where everything paused. A mother and father looked at each other, smiled, and held hands. We had shown them a powerful way to provide for their children’s financial security–their simple, silent gesture continues to remind me how rewarding it is to be a part of that experience. Many of our clients are providers–their fulfillment comes from taking care of others. It is beautiful work to help clients reach the moment where they can look up, realize their own life is secure, and step beyond that to help the people and causes they care about most.
Often, the strategy has been education: teaching the next generation how to think about wealth in a sustainable way and building the habits they need to be financially successful on their own. I have loved the times when we pulled extra chairs into my office to make sure all the kids (or grandkids) had a seat at the table.
As a young advisor, it was an absolute privilege to watch people’s lives unfold. It reminded me of watching a movie—only every once in a while the movie would stop. The characters would turn and say, “Can you help us here?” At these key moments, I would stand up from my seat as a bystander, talk them through their choices, and offer them a roadmap to help their movie have a good ending. Then I would sit back down and the movie would resume. And the couple would decide not to walk down the highly questionable alleyway. The hero would realize he was about to walk into a trap and outsmart the villain. The undercover spy would decide not to drink the poisoned martini.
Of course, our clients are the protagonists—the heroes of their story—and they may have found their way without us. But I like to think we play a meaningful supporting role. And walking through dozens of decisions with clients over the years didn’t just make me a better advisor; it helped me understand what matters when it comes time to make my own version of those decisions.
That said, this work can be challenging. Family dynamics can be delicate. Business transitions can be complex. Life can throw curveballs that no planning software can predict. Plans change. People get sick. People pass away. Families disagree or separate or unexpectedly grow. Yet even the difficult moments have felt like a privilege to experience alongside clients. This career has given me the gift of “micro-experiencing” hundreds of lives—and learning, again and again, what helps people move forward with confidence.
Unbeknownst to me, I had stumbled into a business that matched exactly who I was. As many of my friends from college bounced from place to place trying to figure out their path, this work gave me variety, fulfillment, constant learning, and a conduit to add meaningful value to others on a daily basis.
Sometimes I wish we could measure how many years we have given back to clients from de-stressing their financial life. Even now, over a decade in, I still marvel at how lucky I was to land in this career. I wake up every day excited to head to the office. I thank my lucky stars those two industry veterans decided to take a leap of faith on a kid fresh out of college who knew far less than he thought he did.
Then again, sometimes that’s how great things are built: youth doesn’t always know enough to stop at roadblocks that would make the more worldly pause.
Building something great continues to be our dream here—to serve more retirees, help more business owners navigate transitions, and help more families transfer wealth thoughtfully to the people they love. To help more movies end well.
And if someone comes to mind as you read this—someone approaching retirement, considering a business transition, or trying to plan well for the next generation—feel free to forward it along. Most of the families we serve come to us through people they trust. If someone comes to mind, we would be honored to help them find a happy ending to their own movie*.
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