My job is to put the right people in position to grow, enforce the performance standard, and keep the operation tight, aligned, and moving forward. I've been doing this for 22 years, and what keeps me in it is the moment an advisor actually locks in. The noise drops, the standard becomes clear, and they start moving with purpose. What motivates me is building a team that runs on execution, not excuses. People who respect the mission, protect the client, and don't need constant push or pull to stay aligned. The numbers don't lie. Effort shows. I can see exactly who's moving and who's just talking, and when the work is real, I get to help someone tighten their approach and watch their entire life shift because they finally started operating with intention.
I got into financial services at 27 with a second child on the way. I went to my uncle, who'd been in the business 25 years, and saw how he spent his days having real conversations, building meaningful relationships, and creating a living while making a difference. That mix of impact and independence pulled me in. I have a degree in Chemical Engineering from '96, but once I saw what this work actually was, I knew I wanted to be part of it.
I went to seven different school systems growing up because my dad was a school administrator and we moved constantly. Rural Ohio towns, Cleveland suburbs, all over. One of my favorite questions to ask people is where they're from, because I believe where we lived when we were twelve shapes how we see the world. Under stress, people revert to what they learned when young. In a business where money decisions can trigger old fears and old patterns, I always want to understand someone's default wiring so I can support them in making decisions that serve them. I live in Miami now, and what I find most interesting is the cultural diversity. You can walk into a bakery, and suddenly you're the only English speaker. For all our differences, what we have in common is that everyone's trying to build a life that makes sense and take care of their family.
My wife, Ellie, and I have been married for 30 years. She was a foreign exchange student from Poland in high school, and that's how we met in Ohio. We were married young and had kids young. Our daughter, Alexa, is 28, and our son, Jacob, is 24. I enjoy reading, watching movies, and learning anything that gives me insight into how people think. I'm an avid fan of Ohio State athletics and all forms of auto racing. I'm active at my church throughout the week, and I enjoy coming together in study groups to discuss our shared faith.