The independent RIA life: Unscripted
What's going independent really like?
Two advisors discuss the culture of their firms.
Eric Rosel
Founding Partner
Morgan Rosel Wealth Management
ERIC ROSEL: So being out on your own, you get to create the lifestyle to a bigger extent than you did before. Speaking directly about your firm, how has your firm and the culture of your firm been influenced by this freedom to create… be more creative to do what you want to do?
Sarah Keys, J.D.
Founding Partner
Cardan Capital Partners
SARAH KEYS: I think in terms of our corporate culture and how we've tried to develop the feel of the firm for clients has been a lot more relaxed than maybe it was before. And I think that's really appropriate here in Denver because that's a little bit more the culture, right? You know, men tend not to wear suits, people come a little bit more casual, they're, you know, maybe hopping on their bike or going for a run at lunch. And it's allowed us to, I think, more fully embrace the local culture here in a way that we didn't feel like we could. And so the way in which… I mean, even just to have casual day. Every Friday during the summer is casual day, and we close the office at 3:30. And we made that decision because we were all working really hard, and really enjoying it, but as a way to just kind of recognize that we were in this environment where we could make our own decisions about, you know, things from what you wore to the office to what the hours were, and really develop that around who we are and where we live and what's more appropriate for this particular environment.
How about you? Have you… it's been a year and a half, so maybe you're still in the process of developing that, but do you have any thoughts on how your corporate culture will reflect this new environment?
ERIC: Yeah, I think to your point, the work-life balance that a lot of these companies are figuring out that is very beneficial to productivity of the employees, again, was something that's very difficult to implement on the other side of the fence here. But, with us, just a few weeks ago, our operations staff came to us with a proposal to work every other Friday yet get all the work done. And I have zero issue with that. Without a doubt, I think that that work-life balance you can certainly execute on to a bigger extent on this side.
SARAH: Yeah, I agree.