At the Intersection of Wealth and Leadership

I’m often asked what characteristics make a great leader. While all successful leaders have their own unique qualities, I believe there are few characteristics that all leaders share. Leaders recognize that they’re often not the smartest people in the room, nor do they have all the answers. A great leader is surrounded by individuals who are passionate and truly knowledgeable about a given area. Accomplished leaders know they need to hire talented individuals, provide them structure and support, and let them execute the objectives of the firm.

At Mariner Wealth Advisors, I spend my time ensuring we are embracing our values and fostering the right culture throughout the company. I’ve organized a team of individuals, who each have a unique ability, that I trust to lead their individual departments by developing future leaders of the organization and making sure each associate knows how they fit in. 

Lead by Example

It is important for a leader to “walk the walk and talk the talk.” Associates of any organization watch leadership closely. Because of this, it is important for a leader to follow through on decisions and promises. In addition, leaders need to exude the values they are trying to instill within the culture of their organizations. Too often, leaders have the mentality that the rules don’t apply to them. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. As a leader, you are the ultimate example of the culture you are trying to create. 

Leadership is a position of power, and with great power comes great responsibility. That is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. If you, as the leader, set the right example, your associates will follow. Leadership needs to be genuine. Those who know me well would never mistake me as a stuffy, uptight, stressed-out CEO. On any given day, I probably crack more jokes than anyone in the building. I genuinely love my job because of the people we have hired and the entrepreneurial atmosphere we have created within the organization. That zest for my job and the company is infectious. Life is short; you need to love what you do. 

Philanthropy 

One of my favorite quotes is “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Whether in my personal life or my professional career, I live by this mantra. Philanthropy is a core value of our firm. It is a value shared by our clients across the country. Creating a plan for clients to fulfill their philanthropic wishes is incredibly fulfilling because it accomplishes two very important goals—reaching a goal that is important to them, and giving back to our communities.