A wise woman once said, "Successful people often attribute much of their success to the people they've partnered with along the way."It's a nice bit of wisdom, but not something I could have articulated as a scared 18-year-old, stepping off a plane for the first time in my life. I'd flown across the state to attend school and was suddenly face-to-face with unknown territory – figuratively and literally. As the second person in my family to attend college (and the first to leave home to do so), I was way outside of my comfort zone. In short, I had no clue what I was doing, so I decided I'd better find someone who did.It wasn't an easy decision: I was full of young pride and uncomfortable asking for help, afraid of looking weak or foolish. Fortunately, the pain I felt over maybe failing was far worse than my embarrassment over not naturally knowing everything. I took a chance and reached out, only to discover that I was surrounded by people willing and eager to help me learn to be a good student; to get to know my new city; to thrive.Today, safely graduated and well into my career, I value partnership more than ever. It's why I'm with Edward Jones, where we believe that getting to know the client and what's right for them is more important than hopping on the latest investment trend. As your financial advisor, I'll get to know you and your family, earn your trust and partner with you throughout your lifetime to help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a small business owner, a parent planning for both tuition and retirement, or a retiree with an eye toward your legacy, there's a custom solution for you – and I want to be the one to help you build it.As for the wise woman who so beautifully worded the lesson I learned in my youth? My lovely wife, Donna, with whom I have two amazing children, Drew and Malia. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball with my children, pursuing my fitness goals with Donna and watching Seahawks games with my friends.