Leave it to the Professionals!
Around 2011, a chance opportunity led me to jump out of a small plane for the first time. The experience was transformational!
After a few jumps, I decided that I wanted to become a licensed skydiver and enrolled in Accelerated FreeFall (AFF) training! I learned some key lessons in this experience worth sharing:
On my first solo jump, I had trouble locating the rip cord. Keep in mind that the positioning is different for solo versus tandem jumpers. This was potentially very concerning, but my in-air coaches helped me locate it, & I deployed my chute and landed safely.
On my second solo jump, I located the rip cord and threw the "birdie" away from my body, but failed to let go of it to deploy my drone chute. Again, my in-air coaches quickly corrected this in the air, & I deployed my chute and landed safely.
On my third and final solo jump, I completed all of the in-air maneuvers successfully to meet the jump requirements. I navigated my own flight plan for landing, missed the targeted landing area somewhat, and ended up in some tall grass nearby!
None of these hiccups themselves proved to be fatal, but it did get me thinking about whether I should try to be the professional, or stick to relying on the true professionals who do this day in and day out to provide me with a safe and fun recreational experience that allows me to return to my family each night. It got me thinking about whether, in a pressure situation, I would be able to calmly execute the emergency procedures needed to stay safe in the event of an equipment malfunction. It also became clear quickly that to be a safe skydiver and keep your skills sharp, you must jump regularly without large gaps in between jumps….otherwise, jumping can be unsafe.
I arrived at the conclusion that it would be wiser and more enjoyable to have the benefits of jumping while resting in the expertise of well-trained professionals who love what they do & do it well. They keep me safe & protect me from myself! To this day, I still enjoy the occasional tandem jump aided by a professional skydiver, who are among the best in the world. I get that much more from the experience knowing that I am not jeopardizing my own safety or the safety of my family in the process.
I believe investing is similar. Sometimes market conditions become harsh, & intense emotions and fear roil the stock market. This involves chaos, confusion, & misinformation. How many investors have the training, experience & perspective to safely navigate storms while keeping a steady hand and remaining steadfast to the task at hand?
In this way, my team & I have the unique privilege of providing safety and protection to our clients during the financial storms. We answer the call, so that our clients can experience confidence, clarity, & comfort knowing that are doing what we do every day as investment professionals. Thank you to everyone who bestows this trust in us. It is a high calling, and one that we are truly passionate about!