“When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”
-Thomas Sowell
A reoccurring theme we see at Legacy Capital is the difficult experience of witnessing financial adversity in our clients’ lives. It weighs on our minds as if it were our own. Having to address the elephant in the room when it comes to difficult financial decisions is uncomfortable. In 36 years of serving my clients this remains among the most difficult things we do. In fact, I am finding it tremendously difficult to write about. Having to tell someone that the differences between their financial expectations and the reality of their financial circumstances create a mathematical probability issue that is difficult to overcome seems like a simple math equation, but math and emotion do not always mix.
The phrase “you are probably going to want to fire me for what I am about to say…but you should absolutely fire me if I do not.” Is a gut-wrenching proposition when you are talking to a client and a friend that you respect and care deeply for. It is extremely hard! It resides in our soul long after the situation passes. As painful as this is, I must admit, as your advisor, that this is where wisdom is born. The knowledge gained by these experiences cannot be acquired in a book or classroom. Experiencing and working through the unforeseen circumstances that life throws at us silly humans is the essence of life; it gives us an opportunity to gain experience and appreciate the good times.
Please know that my staff and I are here to have these hard conversations, your success and comfort is what we strive for. We will not hide from the truth, telling you only what you want to hear. We will face the obstacle with you. We will do this as your advocate, advisor, and friend.
- Dave