The 2024 Election: Will You Use Your Influence or Stand on the Sidelines?

The Power of Influence: Guiding Your Clients Beyond Finance

Have you ever wondered how many of your clients truly see you as their?primary advisor—not just in finances, but in life? You likely share conversations that go far beyond portfolio management, helping clients navigate important decisions, challenges, and aspirations. Your advice carries weight, often more than you realize.

Over the years, I’ve worked with a diverse range of clients. There were times I found myself acting as a referee—not between financial goals, but political ideologies. One couple comes to mind: Mike leaned so far to the right he made Dick Cheney look soft, while Paula, his wife, could make AOC seem moderate. I didn’t take sides but helped them appreciate each other’s perspective. Their trust in me ran deeper than the numbers on their account statements.

If you’re their trusted advisor, you’ve earned that role not just with your financial expertise but with your ability to provide perspective in moments of uncertainty. That’s a profound responsibility—and opportunity.

Navigating Influence with Integrity

As an FA, I often told my clients I vote for?people, not?parties. My approach was simple: offer insights, let them make their own decisions, and never let political differences interfere with our relationship. But what happens when the stakes are too high to remain neutral?

If I were still an FA today, I wouldn’t hesitate to have bold, honest conversations. With the future of our nation in the balance, I’d reach out to every client with two clear messages:

1. Your vote matters. Consider the consequences carefully.
2. If you support someone whose values endanger our democracy, I may no longer be the right advisor for you.

It’s not about partisanship—it’s about safeguarding values that support financial well-being, stability, and opportunity for the long term.

Learning from History: Trump, Trust, and Turmoil

When I started my career in Atlantic City, I witnessed firsthand the kind of leadership that derails businesses and destroys livelihoods. Trump’s ventures in AC weren’t just case studies in bankruptcy; they were lessons in broken promises.

I’ll never forget the day my client, Mark Etess, perished in a helicopter crash. Trump later spun the tragedy into a bizarre story about a "sixth sense" saving his life—conveniently ignoring that he wasn’t even in New York that day. This wasn’t a one-off; it was a pattern of self-serving manipulation.

The local contractors who built the Trump Taj Mahal learned the hard way. Trump stiffed them, offering pennies on the dollar. My uncle’s glass business barely survived the fallout, recovering only a fraction of the money owed. It was a devastating reminder that charisma without integrity is dangerous.

Trump's various human deficiencies have been a constant throughout his life, but his potential to inflict catastrophic harm on a global scale must now be viewed as a binary outcome. If he wins, WE ALL LOSE, including his current MAGA acolytes who he openly disparages and despises.

Is This a Risk Worth Taking?

If you are considering voting for this fool, please get past the policy arguments and embrace the reality of what a truly evil creature can do. He wants Israel to flatten Iran and if he wins, I would not be the least bit surprised if his doppelganger, Bibi Netanyahu does just that.

Since Trump killed the Iran Nuclear deal in 2018, the world has had no visibility of Iran's efforts to possess nuclear weapons. Without the USA's ongoing and occasionally futile efforts to keep the middle east cauldron confined to the horrors of conventional warfare, what would prevent either side from a pre-emptive strike as the USA under Trump encouraged Israel to send Iran back to the stone age?

Trump does not care about Israel since he is incapable of caring about anything except money and his own ego. It is a poorly kept secret that Trump's commercial businesses were kept afloat by a series of massive loans from Deutsche Bank that came from money that originated in Russia. This country has 2 major exports, weapons and oil. Imagine what would happen to the price of oil if the Middle East boils over. What do you believe those 7 chats between Trump and Putin were about? Trump wins, middle east blows up, price of oil goes ballistic, Putin's coffers swell as Trump pulls us out of NATO and his butt-buddy Vlad takes Poland. Think that can't happen? Think again!

Why Does This Matter to Financial Advisors?

Your clients look to you for clarity amidst the noise. Today, algorithms amplify confirmation bias, making it harder than ever to discern fact from fiction. As an FA, you’re uniquely positioned to help clients cut through the noise and make informed decisions that align with their long-term interests—not just financially, but in all areas of life.

Imagine if your firm were suddenly run by someone with Trump’s track record. What would you do? What would your clients do? That’s the kind of risk we need to help them recognize—before it’s too late.

Influence with Purpose

Our responsibility as Financial Advisors extends beyond managing assets. It’s about helping clients see the bigger picture, understanding the ripple effects of decisions, and preparing for a future that aligns with their values and goals. If that means having uncomfortable conversations, so be it.

We wield more influence than we often realize. Let's use it wisely—for our clients, our communities, and our future.