When Chet first entered the financial industry in 1996 with Merrill Lynch, he worked as a specialist and senior advisor to Merrill Lynch brokers on how to best address their clients’ long term financial goals. When he left the specialist ranks and started developing his own client base, Chet quickly realized that he didn’t want to simply advise clients on what funds and investments to buy. Instead, he wanted to work with clients as a trusted partner who could help them address their financial goals. This led to his decision to leave Merrill Lynch, a firm his family had worked at for two generations. In 2008, he joined Grier Laughlin at Quintus Financial Services. At Quintus, Chet and Grier created a culture of collaboration, and they worked to provide clients with helpful personalized information and service.
When managing assets, Chet’s mantra is, “You win by not losing.” His investment process focuses on pursuing asset growth through investment returns and savings combined with a strategy that seeks to handle sharp market drops. Chet believes that the key to clients reaching their goals is to combine this investment process with a systematic client contact system. A typical client will hear from Quintus at least once a month and will have an in depth review once a year. “We think our investment process and customized client contact system are our value added proposition,” says Chet. “There are many good investment managers and many good financial planners, but without combining both disciplines, it is too easy for clients to take their eye off the target or become complacent about their investment plan. We truly try to provide the best of both.”
Chet has found in his 20 plus years of managing client assets that the keys to client success are education and communication. Chet spends extra time making sure he isn’t just telling his clients what they should be investing in or how much they need to save. He tries to answer in advance the question of why he is making his recommendations. In Chet’s opinion, the success of his practice can be determined by the success of his clients.
Chet has worked in the financial services industry since 1996, all with Merrill Lynch and Quintus Financial Services. His other professional experience includes working for PUSH America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity in Charlotte, North Carolina. At PUSH America, he planned logistics for the philanthropy’s main fund raiser, a bike ride from San Francisco to Washington D.C.
Chet maintains series 7, 31 and 66 licenses through LPL Financial. Additionally he has CFP®, CRPC® and BFATM designations.