A Year Full of Changes

As most of you are well aware, I haven’t posted anything since December 15th for no apparent reason.  And to be fair, that’s the conclusion I would have drawn had I’d been following this blog as well.  But as with most things, the reason for my absence is a product a significant change in my life.  Simply put, Briaud Financial Advisors and I parted ways on December 17th for a host of reasons.  Among the most acute of these issues was their admission that my desire to take on more investment-focused duties would not materialize due to a change in the firm’s strategic direction.  As I had accepted my previous position with an eye towards moving down this track at a later date (it was suggested, though not guaranteed, that this opportunity would present itself), this lack of opportunity contributed significantly to our parting of ways.  Thankfully, the parting was amicable and I can honestly say that I enjoyed the time and people with whom I worked with at the firm.  I know that I contributed meaningfully to the firm’s success during my time and wish the relationship could have moved down a more mutually beneficial path.

So where, you might ask, does that leave me now?  The truth is that things are in a state of flux as I work to reconcile where to go from here.  With this news coming to light just prior to the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, there was little opportunity to speak with potential employers regarding positions they are hiring for.  Clearly, I would like to stay in the investment field and extend much of the thinking that I espouse on this blog to clientele as a portfolio manager.  To that end, I am currently in discussions with a few investment banks to determine how I might fit into their investment management platforms and what exactly I could offer to clients as a result.  I’ve been considering a move of this sort for some time now, so it’s exciting to actually begin the journey down the path I’ve always wanted to take.  Where this road ultimately takes me is, of course, unknown, but rest assured that I’ll be doing my homework before making any sort of move.  But assuming that I am able to find a firm as client-focused as I am, I have every intention of taking the step from analyst to portfolio manager.  It’s where my passion lies.  It’s what I’ve spent the last decade training for.  It’s simply where I want to be.

With that in mind, I’d love to hear from any of you who are interested in learning more about the investment management expertise I can offer you once all this process is complete.  To be sure, nitty gritty details like fees, account structure, and investment custodians will not be set until I finalize my current search.  That said, I am able to discuss the strategic, long-term investment perspectives that would be the foundation of any portfolio management strategy.  Whether you’re interested in an aggressive, high-risk investment management style or one that is largely focused on capital preservation and current income, I’ve got lots of ideas on how to help you achieve your financial goals.  That’s the beauty of the last decade.  I’ve spent a lot of time in a wide variety of financial markets, which gives me the unique capacity to drawn from the full range of investment products for clients.  The result is a portfolio structure that best fits your needs, not a cookie-cutter mix of stocks and bonds that so many advisors cram their clients into.  I know it’s a bit cliché to claim such a client-centric management style, but, in my case, it’s something I take to heart each and every day.  And in truth, clients deserve nothing less.  That this standard isn’t always met by other financial advisors is a travesty.

So with all that said, I will be back to posting my regular commentary beginning tomorrow morning as I know many of you are anxious to get my thoughts on the Santa Claus rally and today’s big pop in the major equity indices.  Rest assured that I‘ve got a fair bit to say on these issues as well as many others.  Thank you so much for your readership and for your patience over the past few weeks.  I’ll keep you all updated on where things stand as events develop.  In the meantime, please feel free to email me with any questions you may have about my portfolio management services, the markets, or any other issue that’s on your mind.  Here’s to the start of a wonderful new year!

Until tomorrow.....