Say It Now (March 2024)
Spring is in the air. This time of year always brings with it a sense of renewal. It's all around us. There are buds forming on the trees and plants, the forests and meadows are turning green again, and both the birds and the frogs are singing their merry tunes.
I love the changing of the seasons and springtime has always brought with it that heightened anticipation of longer days, walks in the park and on the beach, bike rides, hiking a trail, or just sitting outside at a restaurant enjoying good food and good company. This year spring is even more special for me because on April 1, I will be celebrating my 30th anniversary of starting in business. I thought about this moment right at the beginning of my career, thinking: wow, in 30 years, I won’t be ‘that old’ and will have a lifetime of experience under my belt. And boy did that go fast! It still doesn’t compute or seem real. While my age and what you may think of it is all relative, the fact is I do have a lot of experience in navigating the financial industry and personally advising clients. There has been joy, sorrow, births, deaths, good markets, crashes, promotions, layoffs, stalwart companies going bankrupt, never heard of before companies dominating, and many, many financial products, strategies, and planning systems that did not stand the test of time. What did stand the test of time and did not change with the wind, is our planning approach, our model, and our commitment to our clients.
The most important thing I learned is that this business is all about relationships. Quality, caring relationships. For me, that is the key to a happy life as well. I am blessed to have more than my fair share including my family, my friends, my team, our clients, and our partners. I am grateful for the trust and confidence our clients have placed in me over the years. I never take this for granted and never will. Both need to be continually earned. And I’ve always believed in telling people what they mean to me, and the impact they’ve had on my life. I know that this is not standard practice in our society. The norm is to wait until someone dies before we express how we feel about them or what they meant to us. How many beautiful and moving eulogies have we heard at funerals throughout our lives? It’s too late, they can’t hear us anymore. Why not say it now while they are still here to receive it? Perhaps this has shifted somewhat since the pandemic. I sure hope so, and I hope we don’t backslide into old habits now that we’re ‘back to normal’. I recently came across Walter Greene’s ‘Say It Now’ movement and it totally resonated. Click here to see Walter’s Ted Talk. It’s only 10 minutes, well worth it, and I predict you’ll write down the name of at least one person who you need to call or write a note to, who’s been meaningful in your life. When I think about the last 30 years, there are many names I will be writing down on that piece of paper.
Have a wonderful day, enjoy the spring, and do not hesitate to pick up the phone even if it’s just to say hello.
Best Regards,
Gabor
P.S. Many of our clients have expressed their gratitude for what we’ve done for them and their families. We are often asked if we are still taking on new clients, to which the answer is yes. Please click here to see our ‘new client’ profile, which describes who we can be of most help to.