I graduated college in 1993 with a major in finance, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was around 3600. I was fascinated with statistics and the way it was taught, and as such, my thoughts were of being a financial adviser was about numbers. As it turns out, it's really about people. True planning is extremely personal. I am honored and grateful when folks open up their lives to me in ways that that just do not happen in any other profession. I'm always respectful of the tremendous responsibility in handling the hard earned money of someone else. My team and I truly enjoy what we do. Being there for our clients in good times and bad just just warms my heart. We have a developed a process of working with our clients because we do not want to miss anything at all. The process is rules based and provides us with the discipline to assist folks in reaching their values and goals. Despite all the work that goes into the plan, we believe that our job as financial advisors is to convey the importance of sticking to the plan. So we maintain that those who will succeed with money is really those that are going to avoid the big mistakes. In 2013, one of my best friends died from a brain tumor. We were 42 at the time and we were as close as you could be. I do regret not being a bigger part of his family's financial picture. Quite frankly, his wife and his children are fine, but the entire process should have gone better. I think about that each and every time I'm sitting down with somebody because I just do not want to be afraid to ask the tough questions because I truly feel that that's what a good friend would do now.