It’s February 14, Valentine’s Day. Before I leave the office to go home and celebrate with my loved ones, I find myself ruminating about other key relationships in my life. I look over at the chairs here in my office where so many clients have sat. Often they have shared deeply personal, private aspects of their lives. In an industry where the term “client relationship” have become buzz words, I find myself considering the quality of my own “client relationships.”…

A lot of people become reflective at the beginning of a year, mulling over the highs and lows of the year that just ended. We decided, instead, to take a look ahead and give you some ideas that will help you be better investors in this new year.…

Our new clients were a family who wanted help with managing their investments. Like many advisors, we explained all the services we provide beyond investment management—estate and tax planning coordination, financial planning, loan and insurance support, etc.  Like many new clients, they were initially focused on our investment management services.   …

On a Friday evening a couple of weeks ago, I attended my son’s high school football game.  Here in northern California, the warm Indian summer days of fall have just begun to take on a hint of coolness.  On the night of the football game I found myself bundled up in a jacket and blanket. Yet when we got to the car to go home, I noticed the temperature was only 50 degrees!  It was warm by winter standards, yet freezing in this transition time from…

Some of us like roller coasters. We find them thrilling because ultimately we believe we will walk off the ride in one piece.  Although it may not feel like it while on the ride, we believe we are safe. I wish our Clients could feel the same way about the economic roller coaster ride we now find ourselves on. 

As advisors, while we experience all of the roller coaster’s unpleasant effects, it’s our job to select the smoothest ride, secure our Clients’ seat belts, and hold their hands…