What Christian university did you attend and when?

Olivet Nazarene University, 1994-1998

Tell us about your role at CFG Wealth Management Services.

I have a couple main roles at CFG - Chief Investment Officer and Chief Compliance Officer.  Essentially this means that it’s up to me to coordinate all the investment management and regulatory compliance related activities for the firm.  My responsibilities broadly cover marketing, business development and strategy, performance measurement and evaluation, investment management and consulting, client and staff communication, as well as broader business management responsibilities.

Our firm is relatively small in number of personnel, and as is the case with most small businesses, each person on the team can end up filling a variety of roles that aren’t necessarily in their job description. In practice, being flexible and available to fill in wherever help is needed is a crucial role in a small business.  So, while I often find myself in a variety of roles, my primary responsibility comes back to providing investment advisory services to our firm’s clients. 

You started your career at Merrill Lynch.  That said, what differentiates a boutique firm like CFG from ML and other large firms?

The most significant difference between a firm like ours, which is legally an Investment Adviser, compared to a firm like Merrill Lynch, which is a Broker-Dealer, comes down to the specific duties we owe our clients.  Because of the nature of services we provide, we are fiduciaries in all circumstances.  The fiduciary duty is required of Investment Advisers yet it is not required of Broker-Dealers.  That main difference can result in noticeable differences in philosophy, as well as practice.  My experience has been that depending on the level of duty to the client that is applied, many specific areas as well as the overall culture of the business are affected.

What are some of the current trends in the investment world?  Any predictions for the second half of 2011?

The current trend overall seems to be the lack of one.  Rather than a certain direction – up or down – perhaps the best way to describe current conditions in the investment world is uncertain. The media seems to do a great job of creating a tremendous amount of focus on a new crisis every month or so, thereby creating more uncertainty.  In the bigger picture, however, the key issues at stake remain basically the same as they have been over the past couple years - uncertainty with respect to jobs and the resulting impact on consumer and investor sentiment. Until there is a more obvious, and robust recovery in the job market it seems likely that we might have more of the same – persistent uncertainty resulting in short term swings in the capital markets. 

How does your faith play a role in your day-to-day business decisions?

This was a tougher question than I initially thought it would be.  I got thinking about my daily activities – the items I do day in, day out – and it’s kind of difficult to recall a specific daily decision where my faith does play a strong role.  But I think the big issue really isn’t in those day-to-day decisions; it’s more in having the right perspective to begin with.  If I am focused on living out the life that God has called me to, as he has done through his Word, I believe the day-to-day decisions will be the appropriate ones.  One thing I've come to learn is that unless I have made a daily decision to be in the Word, I really don't have a good chance of actually knowing what it says, and ultimately how to go about the other day-to-day decisions I will come up against. 

I would argue that with anybody, their routine decisions are made in the context of their worldview.  I know that I need to maintain a Biblical worldview, thereby giving me the correct perspective to have any chance of making those day-to-day business decisions effective, not only in that moment, but for the future of the business, my clients, and even for myself and my family. 

What advice would you give students in seeking a rewarding career path?

There is so much advice that students soon to be entering the full time workforce are likely to come across.  The plethora of information can be overwhelming if some focus is not maintained.  In that regard, I would encourage students to make a personal plan – like a business plan for your professional life – that is well thought out and documents all the things that are really important to them. 

I believe a rewarding career path is one that fits within the overall context of your life, and the goals and objectives that make up a person’s view of their life. If a career doesn’t fit within the worldview you have established for yourself - whether that worldview is on paper or not - it probably won't  be a rewarding one. 

I strongly believe that any personal life plan must be in line with the truths God has laid out in his Word.  For that reason, the Bible needs to be the starting point and support for establishing that professional life plan.  So essentially, know the truth that is God’s Word, and make sure you’re applying it correctly to all parts of your life.  If that is done, I believe any career path will be a rewarding one.

How important is professional networking and what are some of the most useful networking tools in your opinion?

Professional networking is very important, not only for career transitions, but also for almost any other professional topic – potential referral sources (business development), an avenue for the sharing of ideas that might shape your future business strategy, and a way to find solutions to a problem you need help working through.  I also believe that maintaining a professional network can also help provide a reality check when it comes to making sure your own attitude is where it needs to be in order to sustain the motivation needed to keep pressing forward in your career, or getting into the career that is right for you.

Aside from the more well known social media tools like LinkedIn, I believe a cup of coffee or a lunch is perhaps the most effective “networking tool”.  While electronic methods of networking are easy to use and make efficient use of your time resources, I believe more effective use of resources comes when true connections are made and maintained. I believe this occurs when quality time is invested face-to-face.  Factors that are crucial in developing meaningful relationships – personal or business - are largely the non-verbal ones such as body positioning and facial expressions.  Too often these days, it seems that the use of electronic media and the convenience it provides has significantly reduced the use of more meaningful face time and thereby limits the crucial non-verbal communication we all need to build those connections. Take care to be effective in your professional networking, not merely efficient.  Choose the method that works best for you and gives you the best chance at connecting with others in a truly meaningful way.