People often ask me, “How and why did you become a financial advisor.”  I grew up with a strong influence in my life who worked in a similar capacity, and perhaps that’s why I chose to do what I do.

My dad was a community banker for more than 45 years and known around town as a fair man; compassionate, with a heart to help.  Some days, he let me tag along with him to work, and I would listen to him talk with people looking for a business or personal loan.  I remember him asking about their business, their customers, and their family.

One day in particular, we drove to a small house out in the county followed by a tow-truck.  As we turned into a short, overgrown driveway, I noticed a shiny new pick-up truck.  I watched my dad climb the steps to the porch, knock on the door, and begin talking with a man I didn’t know.  I couldn’t hear them, but when I saw the man reach into his front pocket and hand over his truck keys, I knew something wasn’t right.  As we drove away, the tow truck driver hooked up the man’s pick-up truck and hauled it away.

On the drive back, my dad said that the man was unable to make the payments on his truck loan. He said he didn’t enjoy this part of the job, but he had no choice in the matter.  That may have been true, but for some reason, it seemed to me that the one who didn’t have a choice was the man who’d lost his truck. 

This was a life lesson.  I believe the real value of money is that it buys you a choice … the choice to live the kind of lifestyle each of us want.  I want to help my clients have the choice to buy the vacation home they’ve talked about, pay college tuition for their grandchildren, leave a legacy for their children, and give more generously to organizations they care about.