Soul in the Game
Wealth management firms have been going away from their founder namesake as the firm's name for years now. There are many reasons for this; however, I chose to go with what may seem "old fashioned" here in 2020. So, in case you were wondering why I chose “Faubion Wealth Management,” here goes.
Behind the Name of the Firm
I’m the kind of person who does not run away from challenges, and when things hit the proverbial fan, hardly ever back down. And when push comes to shove, I’m far more likely to “take one for the team” than to do anything personally advantageous but at the detriment to others. Further, I always aim to take responsibility for my behavior and actions and face the consequences, whether good or bad, because it is the right thing to do. I am not trying to "virtue signal" here, but I do believe that principles matter. And these are the kinds of principles, values, and beliefs that mold character that I respect and attempt to live by every-single-day.
Likewise, I’ve decided to put my name on my firm not because I seek praise, accolades, or recognition, though any human would be kidding themselves if they claim those didn’t matter at all. It is not a narcissistic thing, as I pretty much hate talking or writing about myself ever, so even writing these words is a challenge. However, it is because I want to stick my neck out and be “out there” for people to see. I want to not hide behind some name, some wall, and some mahogany desk not revealing my true self like so many in my profession sadly do. Personally, I believe this is a big reason why there is such a general distrust of the financial services industry.
Anyway, I'm not here to solve for that, but I do want clients to know that when they’re taking the leap of faith to entrust their life’s savings and planning with me, that I reciprocally am not only investing my own personal life’s savings into the business (skin in the game) but infusing something else into the business that I cannot run away from, my own identity. The way I see it, what I am and what I do professionally is not just a reflection of who I am as a person; it is an extension. I do this because this is what I want to be doing, the way I want to be doing it. It is me, and that is why I started my own business. And I want my name on the door because I want more than just skin in the game - I want SOUL in the game.
What exactly does that mean, soul in the game? Well, as a perfect example, it is said that Roman bridge engineers stood underneath the bridges that they had just built while legions of soldiers would march over them. This was done as a testament to the quality of their work and a way to align their interests with those that put their faith in them. That is, if the engineering failed, the engineers would face the ultimate consequence alongside the soldiers that crossed the bridge. Whether or not this is actually true, I'll leave to the historians to debate. But regardless, it is a perfect analogy to what I mean by having soul in the game. Now, of course, what I deal with is not a matter of life and death. But as we all know, finances are an incredibly powerful force (both positive and negative) in one's life, and proper seriousness ought to be acknowledged.
Final Thoughts
As a wealth advisor/planner/manager, I am effectively a bridge builder. Hence my tagline “Bridge the Gap.” I build bridges to help clients get from where they are to where they would like to be. And this is my way of standing underneath the bridge as clients go across it. THAT is soul in the game. And in a profession that is so personal and relies on a complete foundation of trust, I believe that this level of buy-in, responsibility, and accountability is not just a good way of doing it, but the right way.
Do you have any questions at all? I would love to speak with you. Please don't hesitate to reach out!
Matt Faubion, CFP®
Founder - Wealth Manager