When you think of the term, “corner office,” you probably envision wood paneling, magnificent views, and fancy leather chairs. I hate to break it to you, but my corner office does not match that extravagant stereotype! I’m okay with that because my little office fits me and my firm and is the perfect space for me to serve my clients and give them the best service possible.
A Little History
When I first founded Private Client Wealth Advisors, I had just resigned from my position as Vice President at Pershing Advisor Solutions, a BNY Mellon company. I was truly starting from scratch, as I had no “book” of business or client list to take with me. I watched my business expenses diligently and prudently, but they continued to increase. I was investing in the top-of-the-line financial technology to better serve my clients, and that wasn’t cheap.
Initially, I worked out of my home to keep expenses low, but I quickly realized this situation was not ideal. With two sons ages two and seven, as well as a playful chocolate lab named Lucy, someone was always needing my attention and a peaceful working environment was next to impossible to attain.
An Open Door
During a casual conversation with my church’s administrative assistant, the topic of my office space problems came up. She mentioned that the office I now inhabit was going to be available soon.
The office is on the second floor, has three windows, and lots of natural light. Before I moved into my office space it had been occupied by an oil and gas firm for ten years, and prior to that, it belonged to the assistant minister of the church. I figured it had to have great energy!
There were plenty of reasons to love the location; it was simple and basic, boasted fantastic parking access, and was walking distance from my home. To make it even more enticing, my two-year-old was about to start preschool in the same building. It is a perfect fit, and I may never leave.
The Perfect Fit
More than just the physical work space, the office is symbolic of our firm. We are authentic and simple and relatable. We desire to keep our expenses low for our clients, and our office situation helps us accomplish that goal.
I am often asked if we meet with clients in our office and what our clients think of our unique office situation. We most definitely do, and we love that the space embodies our firm’s beliefs. We don’t feel the need to portray ourselves as something we are not. If a client needs a fancy office with expensive decor to trust that we will do an exceptional job for them, then perhaps we are not a good fit.
We put our clients first, acting as a fiduciary on their behalf. Because we provide such a high level of fiduciary care and service, we only serve a limited number of families. For us, it’s not about the number of relationships, but the quality. We don’t need a thousand clients or to portray an image that we are bigger and fancier than we really are. We want to serve about one hundred families in an intentional way that makes a real impact on their lives. We aim to serve as a personal CFO in order to help our clients reach their goals and find financial success.
Our little corner office helps us stay focused, strive for simplicity, and show our authenticity. We currently serve about thirty families and look forward to growing so that we can make a difference for many more people. Just as our office is the perfect fit for our firm, if you feel that we would be a perfect fit for you, we’d love to meet with you. Contact us by phone at 303-945-2222 or email us at barry@pc-wa.com to set up an introductory meeting.
About Barry
Barry Steelman, AIF® is the Founder, Principal, Managing Partner, and Client Advocate at Private Client Wealth Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm based in Denver, Colorado. He specializes in working with individuals, families and businesses and conducting financial planning, portfolio management and retirement plan services. Along with more than two decades of experience, he is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, which signifies knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. Learn more about Barry by visiting www.privateclientwealthadvisors.com or connecting with him on LinkedIn.
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