Remember when there was no internet on an airplane? You actually had to read a book (not a Kindle or iPad), take a nap, or even…(gasp)…speak to your neighbor! How about when cell phones were like $8 dollars a minute? Do you recall when pagers were the most sophisticated form of communication? You still had to run to a pay phone once you got paged and drop in a dime (then a quarter) to return a call. We are all so connected these days. The phone is almost like another appendage for some people (I first typed ‘young people’ but […]

Seven or eight years ago, while in Napa with my wife and a few friends, we met this couple. They were a little older than us and very pleasant. We chatted about life, their kids, and business – just a friendly conversation. Later that evening, I invited them to join us on our wine bus tour. They accepted and hung out with us throughout the tour. She was a stay-at-home mom but worked in the business, too. They were both from other areas of the country but found themselves living in Arizona, where they raised their children. After the tour, my wife exchanged […]

In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa. During the inauguration, he was surrounded by dignitaries and world leaders, celebrities, and heads of state alike. It was a special event that signaled the death knell of apartheid. The world watched. Mandela climbed up to the pulpit, adjusted the microphone, and spoke. The audience and everyone watching around the world expected him to recognize the many dignitaries in attendance, expound on his victory, or deliver vitriol toward his enemies. Instead, Mandela showed the world what grace looks like. He turned to his left, towards three white men in attendance, […]

Some relationships end. All relationships change. Often, it’s hard to let go. “You’re so brainwashed,” he said to me, and I knew our friendship had changed. I met up with some friends last week, some of which I had not seen in quite some time. It can be wonderful to meet up with old acquaintances, but also difficult when you see that you’ve grown apart. Still, you try, if nothing more than for the sake of your shared history, the good memories. You try to remember what it was that you had in common, what you went through together. But the […]

Prior to when Uber and Lyft launched, taxis ruled the roads. Medallions to operate a taxicab were worth millions of dollars, kept for a lifetime, and then passed down to the younger generation. Taxis controlled transportation, from pick-ups at the airport to dictating the work commute and just about everything in between. Taxis had no real competition. But the quality of the product? That was average at best (as long as you arrived in one piece). The customer experience? Well, there really was none to note (unless you happened to sit in gum). And then…BOOM! Uber and Lyft arrived, completely changing the […]

So much is happening in the markets, in the economy, in the world. As a financial advisor, even as more things change, they really just remain the same. We ask questions. We listen. We ask more questions. We listen more. We go deeper. We look our prospects, friends, and clients in the eye, telling them that we’re here to help, acknowledging what’s most important. And then, we get to work, implementing solutions that give them a clear path to reaching those goals. Times change, and so do the words we use, but the sentiment never falters. In 1995, it was, […]

Last week, we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of our firm. (Although our actual anniversary is November 30th.) What made last week so special was not just celebrating the firm’s success over these ten years (or 3,650 days – but who’s counting?!). More than that, it was such a golden occasion because I got to see all of our people together. From near and far, they traveled in from all over the country just for the momentous event. Friends and peers acknowledged our success with thoughtfully written notes, gift baskets, and more than a few bottles of wine. As busy as I […]

In 2010, I decided that the firm where I worked, where I’d started and spent my entire career, was no longer a fit. It was a decision I did not take lightly. I also had NO idea what to do about it or where I wanted to go. But what I did know was: I was not afraid of a fight. I wanted to work hard. Feeling like I was growing was important. Entrepreneurship was definitely for me. I believed in myself, And also believed in teamwork and partnerships. Deep down, I knew I could do more and be more. […]