
William Spencer, CFP®
No one should find their sense of self-worth wrapped up in how much or how little they have. Your wealth should be the vehicle that allows you to explore and express your identity, not be the identity. All too often, clients get caught up comparing the return of their portfolio against that of others or an arbitrary index, as if they must "beat the market." In contrast, the most successful (and happiest) clients clearly define their financial goals and know how to achieve and subsequently protect those goals. Anything beyond that is, at best, simply unnecessary risk and, at worse, hubris.
As advisors, we first try to understand each client's unique interpretation of the term "wealth" and how it fits into who they are. In doing so, our team gains insight into the most valuable things to them. Only then can we identify how to best help that client use their wealth to maximize the essential things in their life.
We are convinced the relationship between a client and their advisor(s) should be grounded in trust and communication. So as advisors, we strive first to earn a client's trust, which comes from genuinely appreciating and connecting to the client as a person. From there, we can show our competency to craft and deliver the strategies they need. Over the years, planning and investing have grown exponentially more complex. As such, we believe client success is molding the dynamic intricacies of modern financial life into a clear, concise road map for the future. The actual dividend of a solid financial plan is peace of mind.
Within financial planning and portfolio construction, our team focuses, first and foremost, on managing risk. Our comprehensive approach to collaborating with a client is founded on four principal areas of focus: Tax Efficient Cash Flow Planning, Risk & Liability Management, Asset Management, and Legacy (Estate) Planning.
We judge success by forging quality relationships with our clients. We care about them as people, not as a pile of money or a source of income for us, never forgetting that it is a privilege to collaborate with a client, not an entitlement.
We are committed to always putting our clients' best interests above all other things. We try every single day to leverage our years in the industry, honing in on areas of comprehensive planning and investment emphasis to create the best client experience possible.
Experience
Our team brings a healthy mix of experience and youth to the table. It is comforting to our clients to know that in three decades of practice, we have navigated multiple market cycles and witnessed clients experience all the major financial milestones in a lifetime. And yet, at the same time, we are youthful enough that clients can expect us to be there to see them through their future financial stages. Ultimately, this means better decision-making and fewer mistakes, which can give clients more confidence and comfort.
Commitment
We embrace the responsibility of having clients entrust their life savings with us, regardless of the amount. And so, we do not have account minimums; instead, we look for relationships of mutual respect and value. This connectivity allows us to commit wholeheartedly to clients whether they have $1mm or $100mm.
Conviction
The long-term success of the advisor/client relationship is based on a shared set of values. Since values and money go hand in hand, it is essential for clients to find and collaborate with a financial advisor that is clear about what they believe in and has the conviction to follow through on those beliefs when collaborating with their clients. This begins with our mission statement and comes alive in our daily activities.