02/18/2025
The year ends in 5, so I'll soon celebrate a milestone birthday.
A large part of my job is talking through ideal visions of retirement: where you want to travel, where will your grandkids live, what hobbies will you pick up or continue.
A large part of my job is also talking through our lack of invincibility and what would happen if someone passes away unexpectedly.
These things got me thinking about making sure I had our plan written somewhere in layman's terms for my wife, should I unexpectedly meet my maker.
That plan also needed to include the right financial advisor to execute the plan.
At Edward Jones, we have a very tight-knit and caring culture. I personally know many advisors in my region that I'd trust with my money.
But who would I trust with my wife's future? My children's future?
Who would navigate that picture with the knowledge and clarity required, and most importantly, who will guide the person who just lost her husband?
I don't care about the biggest producers. I don't care about the smoothest talkers.
I care about who is going to listen to understand and work their hardest to make this horrible time as smooth and seamless as possible.
I care about who is going to guide my wife and children through something they didn't have to worry about before.
I care about who is going to respect my vision for my own family's future and help carry it out and make it a reality.
Simply put, I care about people skills, not the advisor's personal success.
All this reflection has reaffirmed to me that I need to continue to focus on the things I'd want my advisor doing with those I love the most.
That's the expectation everyone should have when they work with me.