Gene Jester, CPWA®
I heard someone say recently that “taking the time to listen is an act of love.” I strongly believe that is true because everyone who comes to us for advice and guidance has a unique story. If we do not take the time to listen, we may never discover it. In the simple act of listening, we begin our journey together and determine the direction we are to take.
The foundation for my work as a Wealth Advisor was formed long before I entered the financial services industry. It began in Divinity School and during my first career as a parish minister. There I learned the importance of approaching my work with imagination, compassion, and a desire to serve others. I learned how to build an organization around a dream and how to remain faithful to its purpose.
When, after 18 years in ministry, I began my career in financial services, I simply carried that same calling into a different setting. While some thought it was an unlikely transition, the two professions have had much in common. At their core, both are about serving others and helping people become wise stewards of the gifts and resources entrusted to them. Today, at age 81 and more than four decades into my financial services career, the connection between those two callings is clearer than ever. Trust, integrity, empathy, and a genuine love for people have been essential in both.
Since forming our practice in 1987, I have encouraged every member of our team to pursue continuous learning and professional growth. Our clients continually bring us new opportunities and challenges that stretch our thinking and require us to keep learning.
That means ordinary industry standards are not enough for the level of service and advice we seek to provide. Each of us, David, Tracie, Drew, Shelby, and I, understands the importance of continually improving. We are, first and foremost, students of our profession.
My own commitment to growth has included advanced studies leading to the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist® (CRPS®), and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designations. Those experiences have helped me better serve individuals and families facing increasingly complex financial decisions.
Since joining Baird in 2017, I have enjoyed being part of a firm whose culture aligns closely with our values of stewardship, integrity, and long-term relationships. I am especially grateful to work alongside my son, David, as we continue building on the foundation established nearly forty years ago. Together with Tracie, Drew, and Shelby, we have the privilege of serving individuals, families, and organizations we genuinely enjoy knowing and helping.
Jeannie and I have four children between us and six grandchildren, three girls and three boys. Most of our family lives here in North Carolina, and spending time with them remains one of our greatest joys.
Along with the joy I find in family and work, one of the greatest blessings in this season of life has been serving a small church. What was supposed to be a seven-week volunteer commitment preaching at a little country church on Sunday mornings somehow became seven years and counting. What began as a short-term opportunity has grown into a deeply meaningful part of my life and a reminder that some of life's most rewarding opportunities arrive unexpectedly.
Our neighbors sometimes think we operate a small animal rescue because abandoned dogs and cats still seem to find their way to our door. These days, our dogs Pin and Nestlé keep us company and ensure there is never a dull moment around the house.
Jeannie and I continue to live in our beloved Victorian home near Chapel Hill. After all these years, it remains a wonderful place to gather with family, friends, and the occasional four-legged visitor.