In a recent meeting with an institutional investor, I was asked an insightful question: What do you not have compared to the industry giants? It was a question that cut straight to the heart of what differentiates us, prompting me to reflect on the unique advantages that come with working with a smaller, independent team like mine.
What I do not have is bureaucracy. I do not have layers of management or conflicting priorities that dilute my focus. Unlike larger firms, I do not have to answer to an investment banking arm pushing for stock recommendations to secure their next big deal.
I’m not pressured by a trading desk trying to execute blocks of stock to protect bonuses. I certainly do not have a sales-driven culture where quotas come before client needs. I certainly do not have a boss breathing down my neck with threats about job security if I do not hit the monthly quotas.
What I also do not have is complacency. My team is smaller and every client matters deeply to us. I do not view you as a number in a vast system but as a partner whose success directly reflects our own.
While profit or loss can never be guaranteed in the world of investing, what I can guarantee is the unwavering dedication of my team and me to put your interests first. I treat every client as a valued partner.
While we do not have the sprawling infrastructure of the industry giants and we do not have flashy marketing campaigns or oversized advertising budgets, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.
Our clients pay a fair fee (I do not inflate the cost), with no hidden costs and no conflicts of interest. Rest assured, I will not trade your email address for a few extra dollars from marketers.
Real talent is in short supply in our show business, kind of like finding a needle in a haystack, except the haystack is a giant pile of overinflated marketing claims and buzzwords. In my work, I’m not out searching for the latest “hot shot” with flashy credentials or the next big thing who promises the world but does not deliver. Instead, I’m looking for the managers or traders who actually know what they are doing, not just people who can talk a good game.
This question was not just an opportunity to explain what sets us apart, it reaffirmed my belief that sometimes, what you do not have can be just as important as what you do.