I grew up in small-town Oklahoma, in a community surrounded by wheat fields where everyone supported the local sports teams and went to church. Both my parents were teachers and the first generation in their families to go to college. So besides our faith, education was very important.
Interestingly, I feel some of the major events in U.S. History shaped our family values. As children of the Great Depression, my grandparents learned the importance of thriftiness and saving. Both grandfathers then later served in World War II, further instilling in them a sense of duty and service, traits they passed on to the next generation.
Both sides of my family came from meager beginnings and the importance placed on faith, education, saving and hard work was far more valuable than any tangible assets they could give to us. Part of the reason I became a Financial Advisor is to serve and educate others about their finances, but also because I believed there was a better option to the Advisor that is trying to sell different products and charge high fees. I don't benefit from products I sell or make commissions on trades I make for clients. But rather, I have a Fiduciary duty, putting the interest of others above my own. Not every Advisor or Broker does that.
As for my family now, it all started in New Orleans, where I met my wife at church as recent college grads. Hurricane Katrina pushed us to Memphis, TN, where I started working in Financial Services. Ultimately we moved to Texas where all three of our children were born, and we finally settled just west of Fort Worth in Aledo, another small community. We enjoy sports, swimming, hiking, biking and try to travel as much as possible. We've started the process of conveying our family values to our kids.
My hope is to be a trusted ally to those who share my values, to help my clients in growing their wealth and achieving their financial goals.
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