So, the news is out now that Linda, my partner for the past 26 years, is retiring at the end of 2020. The financial planning profession will be losing one of its best.

As Certified Financial Planner™ professionals, we are obligated to follow a Code of Ethics and abide by Standards of Conduct. When I look back at 26 years of working with Linda, many of these standards of conduct pop out at me. Duty of Loyalty requires the CFP® professional to place the interests of the client above their own, avoid conflicts of interest, and to act without regard to their own interests, or any firm or entity other than the client. Integrity requires a CFP® professional to perform professional services with integrity. Integrity demands honesty and candor which may not be subordinated to personal gain or advantage. Professionalism requires a CFP® professional to treat clients, prospective clients, fellow professionals, and others with dignity, courtesy, and respect. I’m so proud to be associated with a fellow CFP® professional whose career has been built on not only what I’ve written above but on every aspect of our code of ethics and standard of conduct. The profession is losing one of its best.

Our office will be losing someone of high competence and high energy. We will be losing a generous, caring partner who is always wanting to help and move our firm forward in any way that means better service and care for our clients. While technology isn’t necessarily her friend, she willingly jumps in and tries new things if its best for us and our clients. We will be losing someone who makes us laugh and keeps things loose. We will be losing someone whose glass isn’t just half-full, it’s all the way full to the top.

I’m not losing anything, which is good news. Being married to her sister, I get the blessing of continuing to have her in my life, plus I’ve gained 26 years of great memories that I’m sure we will embellish over the years and bottles of wine yet to come. We’ve disproved the theory that says family members shouldn’t go into business together. Not only did we survive, but we have also become closer. We’ve fought through bad financial markets together. We’ve prayed together for clients who were experiencing loss of jobs, loss of health and loss of spouse or children. We’ve traveled together to some great places in search of further growing our skills and knowledge. We went through the loss of her first husband together and through her marriage to her current husband, Ron.

Just because I’m not losing anything, doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss anything when she retires. I’ll miss her coming into my office first thing every morning to say “hi.” I’ll miss seeing her unsuccessfully try to pull her car into a parking space out front. I’ll miss finding her coffee cup in the microwave, where she left it 30 minutes before when she was warming it up. I’ll miss when she comes into my office and says, “can I pick your brain a second?” (After 26 years of that, my brain is pretty slim pickins right now). I’ll miss her talking me out of going to the gym during the lunch hour and going out to lunch with her instead.

She’s not riding off into retirement just yet. We all get her until the end of 2020. That’s a blessing for the financial planning profession, Legacy Wealth Management, and this guy! And I have a word for my partner. Get ready Linda Ann, it’s going to be a helluva a good year!

These are the opinions of Mike Berry and not necessarily those of Cambridge, are for informational purposes only, and should not be construed or acted upon as individualized investment advice.

Mike Berry is a Registered Representative offering securities through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Legacy Wealth Management, LLC and Cambridge are not affiliated. Cambridge does not offer tax advice.

Copyright ©2020 Mike Berry. All Rights Reserved. Commercial copying, duplication or reproduction is prohibited.