I believe it is important for financial professionals to enjoy and get fulfillment from what they do. In addition to our professional work, this enjoyment is greatly enhanced by volunteering and supporting philanthropic interests. For me, it’s working to help kids develop skills and grow as players and teammates on the soccer field. More and more our youth need positive experiences and outlets for stress. I feel lucky to be able to work and play with them and to be a life coach and mentor to them. It’s also the reason I love my job—it’s educational and nurturing. I enjoy transforming relatively complicated issues into understandable and actionable strategies that fit a family’s culture and needs. It’s important to include that second part because even the best strategies in the world can easily be undone by conflicting family dynamics.

Being service minded makes what I do in both my business and professional lives that much more fulfilling. I feel very fortunate to be able to pursue interests that are so meaningful and also so enjoyable.