If you haven’t seen the new series “The Bear” I highly recommend it. It’s a compelling story of a Chicago restauranteur and Chef, that is both a culinary genius and slightly disturbed. I can relate…to the latter, not the former. What pray tell does this have to do with money or investing, good question. Well, as most of you know my son Bracher (Brat chur, don’t worry he’s used to repeating it and yes, it’s a family name) is now three years in with the firm and becoming an intricate part of my plan to play more golf and generally goof off. I bring him up because he, like his father, has a propensity for seeing ironic links between pop culture and this business we call “investing”. In this case, he shared in our Monday morning team meeting a clip from the aforementioned “The Bear”. In that clip, one of the main characters (Richie) was having a heated discussion with the newly hired manager about quality control and the importance or lack thereof of “Streaky Forks”. Hang on I’m getting there. Richie a holdover from the restaurant’s more rugged and greasier past was arguing that slightly streaky forks were inconsequential and that no one would notice. Of course, the high-end manager that had been hired shared a different view. This view, to summarize, was that many of the folks that came to their restaurant had maybe saved for months to be able to afford to eat there. They had maybe hired a babysitter or bought a new outfit for the occasion. Maybe they had recently experienced some tough times and this “dinner out” was a moment to relax and live for an hour or two free from problems; in fact, this meal was a break from life’s often harsh realities. He in no uncertain terms made it clear that when these people picked up their forks that evening, the slightest streaks would in some way remind them of that which they were escaping, even if just for a couple of hours. So yes Richie, clean the #@*^% forks!
As always you must now be wondering what this has to do with “our” relationship and the world that is my business and your economics. My son’s point, that clearly was well made is that everything matters. We as your advisors must make sure our forks aren’t streaky and that from the second we engage with you, we are in fact “engaged”. My team and I reemphasize weekly that every person that walks through our door has a story. Often, if not always this story has difficult twists and turns, disappointments, and heartache. Often years of hard work and moments of complete frustration if not despair. All of our clients are what many would call “successful” and or “wealthy”. We remind ourselves every day that “success” is not born of just luck. To be fair luck plays a role, but so does perseverance and effort. We try to remember that we’re only seeing the glorious part of the struggle, but hopefully, we are showing you every day that we recognize it and respect that you’ve chosen to entrust us with the rewards of that struggle.
In short, we thank you for dining with us, and if ever you see a fork that needs shining, please let us know. After 36 years in this business, I think my passion (weird I know) for providing a better and more meaningful experience to our clients has only grown stronger.
Bon Appetit,
Scott