Doug and I have worn a lot of hats over the years to keep our business healthy and growing. It’s a familiar story for most business owners. The goal, of course, is to take great care of clients so the business naturally grows and eventually, some of those hats can be passed along to a capable team.
Today, that’s exactly what’s happening. Our team has steadily taken on more of the day-to-day work that once filled much of my calendar. And as a result, I’ve found something that’s increasingly valuable: margin. Margin for the work I enjoy most, overseeing complex client needs and spending time with friends, family, and co-workers of our clients.
I’ve also found a deeper appreciation for a role I’ve been stepping into more intentionally; what we might call the “Chief Relationship Officer” hat. Relationships have always been the bedrock of our firm, and I believe they’ll remain the defining force behind any future growth. I often remind our team, and I do so with joy, that everything we build must be grounded in trust. Right now, there are four qualities we believe help strengthen every relationship we’re fortunate enough to have: loyalty, care, reliability, and interest.
Loyalty
One of the things I’m most proud of is the freedom we have to serve in a way that’s fully aligned with your best interest. Our fee-based approach frees us from commission-driven pressures and allows us to focus solely on what’s right for you. Over time, we’ve seen how trust grows when you know, without question, that your needs come first.
Reliability
We all want people in our lives we can count on, and we want to be that kind of presence for you. If we say something will get done, we do everything in our power to follow through. We know trust isn’t just built on promises; it’s built on consistency. And if we ever fall short or make a mistake, you can count on us to take ownership, be transparent, and make it right.
Care
We care deeply about the work we do, but more importantly, we care about the people we do it for. That means you. You’re not just a number in a system. You’re a whole person, and we want to honor that in every interaction. Whether we’re executing a transaction or walking through a complex decision, we want you to feel seen, respected, and cared for, because you are.
Interest
The strength of our comprehensive approach depends on more than financial strategy. It depends on how well we know you. Not just the details on paper, but the hopes, goals, and even the worries that make up the bigger picture of your life. We want every conversation, whether it’s a quick check-in or a deeper planning session, to reflect genuine interest. Because we believe the better we know you, the better we can serve you.
As we continue to grow, we’re committed to building a team of people who share these qualities at their core. It’s not just what we do, it’s how we do it that makes the difference. And at the heart of it all is a simple belief: relationships matter.
Allen Minassian