Recorded on location at the Steward Symposium, Ryan Nauman welcomes Maria Condon, Chief of Staff at Steward Partners, to discuss how the firm’s culture is built, reinforced, and scaled amid rapid growth. Maria explains why the annual three-day symposium exists, what makes its energy and access to leadership unique, and how in-person connection complements content like newsletters and podcasts. She details Steward’s ownership-driven alignment and accountability, the planning required as the event has grown from about 50 partners in 2017 to nearly 500 attendees, and what success looks like through engagement and traditions like the NFL-draft-style jersey ceremony. Maria also shares how “Stew-opoly” became a meaningful symbol of the firm’s story, and describes her chief of staff role as driving alignment, execution, communication, and cultural continuity.
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Learn more about Steward Partners here.
00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer
00:27 On Location at Symposium
01:12 Meet Maria Condon
02:28 What Symposium Is
05:13 Why It Feels Different
07:16 Culture at Steward
10:21 Proof Culture Is Real
12:48 Planning and Success
14:41 Jersey Ceremony Tradition
18:29 Scaling Culture with Growth
20:43 Stewopoly Culture Moment
23:10 Chief of Staff Explained
25:00 Culture Drives Outcomes
27:22 Why You Must Attend
28:35 Wrap Up and Links
Welcome to the Adjusted for Risk podcast.
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:Join myself, Brian Nauman, as I talk
markets, investments, economics- Let's
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:get started … and life as I help prepare
you for the upcoming week in market.
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:This podcast is for informational
purposes only and should not be
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:relied on for investment decisions.
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:Hello, everyone, and welcome to
the Adjusted for Risk podcast.
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:Let's go.
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:We are recording on location at the
Steward Symposium, which is gonna be
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:a great few days of fun conversations,
great content, and some great insights.
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:You know, culture is so important,
whether you're talking about a sports
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:team or a wealth management firm.
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:Well, my next guest is going to provide
some great insights into the importance
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:of culture, along with what it takes to
produce a successful annual conference.
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:But first, today's po- uh, today's episode
is sponsored by the award-winning Zephyr,
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:which helps investment professionals
make more informed investment
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:decisions on behalf of their clients.
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:All right, enough from me.
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:Let's go ahead and bring
on the star of the show.
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:I'd like to welcome, give a very
warm welcome to Maria Condon.
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:Maria is the Chief of
Staff at Steward Partners.
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:Maria, thank you so much for coming on.
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:Really excited about this conversation.
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:It's an honor to have you on this show.
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:Can you please tell us a little bit more
about yourself and Steward Partners?
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:Yeah, sure.
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:Um, I've been at Steward Partners
now for well over 10 years.
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:Been here kind of from the beginning.
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:So we've really looked
at a lot of machinations,
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:changes throughout the years.
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:Um, and here we are at
our annual conference.
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:It's our ninth one.
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:Uh It's doubled, tripled,
quadrupled in size- … so we're
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:super excited for this week.
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:It's gonna be great.
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:Lots of fun.
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:Great to see everyone.
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:Yeah, it's fantastic.
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:I can imagine all the work.
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:Is it really, like, a year-round
process of planning one of these
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:annual confer- do you ever stop, like,
thinking about it or planning it?
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:Oh, no, it's ongoing.
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:I mean, right after, once I get home
after the, after this week It starts
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:next- We're moving on to the 10-year.
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:Yeah.
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:So come and talk to us next year- … at
the 10-year 'cause it's gonna be a blast.
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:It'll be a big party.
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:Yeah.
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:For anyone who hasn't
experienced a Stewart Symposium
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:before, paint us a picture.
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:What is it?
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:Why does it exist?
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:Why did you think about
starting it nine years ago?
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:Sure.
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:Well, by definition, it's
our annual conference, right?
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:This is a chance for us to
all spend time together.
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:It's our advisors, our leadership team,
our board of directors, support staff,
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:and we all get together in one place
for a solid, action-packed three days.
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:But in reality, it's so much more
than just an annual conference.
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:It's the one time each year where
the entire firm really can get
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:that chance to come together,
reconnect, and remind ourselves why
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:we're all part of Stewart Partners.
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:Uh, it embodies the culture
that we work so hard to build.
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:Um, there's collaboration, the
forward-thinking mindset, and that small
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:firm feel that generally translates
to something closer to family.
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:Um, but it's also the first time m-
many of our new partners really get
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:to actually experience it up close
what it actually feels like to be part
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:of this firm beyond the day-to-day.
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:Um, so just as importantly,
it's so much fun.
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:Uh, we're super intentional about that.
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:We work really hard, but this is a
chance to take that step back, enjoy
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:being with one another, and really
celebrate, uh, what we've built and
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:what we're building for the future.
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:Um, and another really huge
part of this is access.
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:It's really special.
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:Our board of directors,
our senior leadership, uh,
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:strategic partners are all here.
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:They're all here to engage.
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:Um, and it's not just,
you know, a presentation.
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:It's real conversations.
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:It's one-on-one time.
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:Um, so all of this together,
the connection, the access,
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:the energy, it's really what
makes the symposium what it is.
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:Yeah, I think that's, uh, fantastic,
Maria, and is spot on because I
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:think when we had COVID, which
is crazy- Wasn't that long ago.
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:Mm.
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:I think before then, people took
for granted interaction, human
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:interaction, being till COVID
happened, it's like, oh my gosh.
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:I, uh, we can't have conferences, we
can't have, like, social interaction.
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:So I think it, people now realize
the importance of it, and they
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:don't take it for granted.
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:And like you said, I, in the
industry of creating content,
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:but, you know, people can get…
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:Read newsletters every day.
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:Sure.
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:They can watch a podcast,
but it still doesn't replace
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:the, that human interaction.
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:They, you know, listening to Jim
Gold onstage, right, or talking
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:to Jim Gold in person, sure,
you can see him on a podcast.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:But is it the same?
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:No, it's not.
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:Right.
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:You're exactly correct.
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:Absolutely.
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:Yeah.
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:A lot of firms hold annual conferences,
um, but what makes this symposium feel
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:different to the people that attend?
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:I- is it the energy?
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:Other than, you know, we're on the beach.
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:Like, what is it?
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:W- a location?
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:What is it that adds energy to
a conference that makes people,
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:you know, remember it and talk
about it for months afterwards?
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:Well, I think the energy here
is, it really is, as we like to
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:always say, it's electric here.
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:It really is.
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:Um, you know, there's an energy that
you feel that moment you walk in.
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:Again, people are engaged,
they're excited, and they want
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:to be there, like, genuinely.
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:And for a lot of us, it's
a reunion in many cases.
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:It's been an entire year since we've
last seen each other in person,
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:so there's this genuine feeling of
reconnection and- Seeing old friends.
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:At the same time, you're meeting
the new partners, you're building
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:new relationships, and continuing
the traditions that really have just
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:been part of the experience of- Mm
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:being here at the symposium.
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:Um, you see it in the sessions,
but you really feel it in those
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:interactions, in those moments.
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:Uh, people lean into conversations.
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:There's a lot of idea sharing and
learning from each other, and it's just
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:very natural, and I think, um, that's
one of the most important things.
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:No one's forcing you to be here.
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:They want to be here.
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:Uh, and I think, um, you know, what
makes me most proud is that people
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:walk away feeling that it was time
well spent, and that's always the goal
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:and something we're incredibly pr-
proud of as we go ahead and plan this.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:No, I love that you brought
up it's just natural, right?
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:Mm.
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:Nobody wants to be forced
to do anything, right?
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:That takes the energy
out of it and the fun.
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:And, you know, when people are
spread out all over, you get…
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:I think Jim said 90 offices.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:90-some offices around the US.
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:You know, you can feel kinda isolated,
so it's nice to get together in one
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:place and, and bring everyone together.
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:And my next question is about
culture, and I'm sure when you do
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:get everyone together, it helps,
you know, confirm that culture,
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:res- you know, solidify that culture
that you're building or have built.
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:You know, it's one of those
terms that gets thrown around
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:constantly in financial services.
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:I have conversations about
culture all the time.
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:But what does it actually mean at Steward?
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:When I talk to you, I've had so many
great conversations with the Steward
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:folks, and I can really tell that
culture, it's not just a tagline.
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:It actually means something.
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:And how does the symposium bring
that culture- Mm … together?
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:Uh, yeah, it's tremendously important.
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:Um, at Steward, culture isn't
something that we just describe.
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:It's something that- It's ingrained.
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:It's built into how we
operate here at the firm.
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:Um, it really starts with the ownership.
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:When everyone has a stake in
the business, it creates a level
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:of alignment, accountability
that's really hard to replicate.
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:No matter where you sit in our
organization, you're tied to the outcome.
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:It's all shared, and that changes how
people think, how they collaborate,
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:and how they show up from day to day.
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:Um, I remember when we actually first
started Steward Partners, if you printed
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:in color at 40 cents a slice of paper-
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:everyone's like, "You
can't print in color.
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:It's too expensive.
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:Our profit sharing."
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:You know?
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:Um, so just again, it, it,
it just, it really trickles
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:down into everything we do.
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:Um, so the structure here, it naturally
creates that environment where ideas
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:are shared openly, people challenge
each other in positive ways- Mm-hmm
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:and there's constant focus on how we can
improve, how we can evolve, move forward.
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:Um, the symposium brings that to life
because it creates the space for those
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:interactions to actually happen in person.
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:It's not just about content, it's
about the meaningful dialogue.
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:Mm.
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:So advisors are engaging with our
leadership, sharing the ideas with the
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:peers, having real conversations about
what works and where we can do better.
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:Um, and a big part of that
is, again, the access.
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:Our board of directors and our
senior leadership, they're here
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:spending time with advisors.
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:They're listening.
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:They're offering perspective on the
in- on the, um, on the industry.
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:There's growth- the growth
opportunities and the future of where
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:this firm will sit in the industry.
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:Mm.
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:Uh, and that level of transparency
and engagement is what makes
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:that culture really tangible.
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:It's something you can actually
experience, and it's not just
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:something that you can hear about.
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:Yeah, I think that's fantastic.
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:How many places, how many
firms allow you that access.
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:I've heard, I've had numerous
conversations today, the access to
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:leadership and at, you know, the
symposium, it allows that see Jim, see
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:Jeff walking around, see yourself, how
open you guys are, the conversations, and
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:I've noticed that in all my conversations,
Stewart really thrives on that- Mm-hmm
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:on that openness.
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:As chief of staff, uh, you see the
firm from a very wide vantage point.
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:What do you observe about the people
at Stewart that tells you the culture
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:is real and just not, like I said,
a tagline or some, you know, s-
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:castle in the clouds type thing?
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:Oh, culture, whatever.
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:How do you know it's real?
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:Well, I've been here since the
very beginning, as I said earlier.
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:Okay.
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:So I've really had that front row seat to
how the firm has evolved over the years.
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:Um, you know, my heart and my
soul is closely tied to this firm.
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:You know, I've worked in other
places, and nothing is like this.
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:Um, and I take a lot of pride in that
because I'm incredibly passionate about
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:the culture that's been built here.
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:Um, you know, we've grown, we've brought
in new people, the structure has changed,
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:but one thing that always remains constant
is how people show up for each other.
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:Um, there is an expectation
of excellence, but it goes-
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:Mm … beyond just performance.
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:There's a genuine sense of accountability
to one another and a shared commitment
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:to doing things the right way.
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:Um, and again, it shows up in
very, very real situations.
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:It's, it's how we make decisions.
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:It's how we take the feedback in.
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:It's how we work through
the challenges together.
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:There's alignment around those
behaviors, not just the outcome.
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:Um, I believe our leadership team
really plays a huge role in that.
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:They're the best in the
business, if you ask me.
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:Uh, we lead with integrity, fair-
fairness, they're collaborative,
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:and they set the tone- Mm … for
everyone else in the organization.
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:So it really is that trickle-down.
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:Leading by example is always
the best way, if you ask me.
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:Uh, so when you lead by
example, people buy into it.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:Yeah.
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:That's spot on.
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:If, if your management team isn't on
board with that culture, then again,
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:it's just this pipe dream, right?
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:You- Exactly … it, it needs
to start at the top, and, um,
242
:you can definitely tell it does.
243
:And, and I, I think you brought
up a good point, too, about the
244
:ownership stru- uh, structure.
245
:I think that probably helps a
lot, too, having an openness.
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:Are you gonna believe in a
culture if, you know, your views
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:and opinions aren't accepted?
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:Probably not.
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:So- Exactly … very important.
250
:You know, going back to the event, the
symposium It takes a lot, especially one
251
:this size, uh, enormous coordination.
252
:You know, walk us through what goes
into making a symposium happen.
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:And I always wonder, w- what is success?
254
:Is it the number of people that come?
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:Is it the number of vendors?
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:Like, what does success look like?
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:Um, well, I mean, it takes a tremendous
amount of coordination, uh, but I'm very
258
:fortunate to have an incredibly strong
team behind me, and at this point,
259
:we're all balancing this alongside
our day-to-day job, uh, which makes a
260
:successful event even more rewarding.
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:Um, but the planning really
starts months in advance.
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:Uh, we think about the agenda, we
think about the flow, um, and how
263
:every detail would contribute to the
experience we want people to have.
264
:Um, the event itself has really
evolved quite a bit over the years.
265
:Mm-hmm.
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:Our first symposium, it was 2017.
267
:Uh, it had just over 50
partners, barely a stage.
268
:I don't even know if we paid
for that many microphones.
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:Yeah.
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:Um, and now we're approaching 500 people.
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:So the growth adds complexity, but
it also makes it that much more
272
:meaningful when it all comes together.
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:Uh, we try to level it up by way
of experience, whether you focus
274
:on branding and- Mm-hmm … uh,
you know, kind of the marketing
275
:piece of it, or just the food- Yeah
276
:or the fun.
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:The lunch was fantastic today.
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:Excellent.
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:Excellent.
280
:I had the mahi mahi.
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:Yes.
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:It was very good.
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:Cool.
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:Um, but for me, the success
is actually quite simple.
285
:It's really looking around that room
and seeing the people engaged, talking,
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:reconnecting, enjoying themselves,
being present in the moments there.
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:And then there are the moments that
bring it all to life, and the jersey
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:ceremony on the final night is
probably the best example of that.
289
:And- I'd like to expand on that
a little bit Yeah, please do Um,
290
:because the- Because I'm gonna end
up missing it, so please tell me
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:more about it You're missing out.
292
:You're missing out, Ryan.
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:Next year you have to- Yeah, you-
you- … come to our 10-year Your 10-year.
294
:Yeah But the concept, uh, you
know, Jim Gold came up with this
295
:concept in the very beginning,
and, uh, it's like the NFL Draft.
296
:So each new partner is assigned a
number based on when they joined the
297
:firm, so you might be partner 87,
142, at this point 360-something Wow
298
:um, or whatever it may be.
299
:There's actually a lot
of excitement around it.
300
:At this point, people are eager to
find out what their number will be,
301
:and there was even a big push around
who was going to get number 100.
302
:I'll never forget- Right … that
was like, "Do I, did I get 100?
303
:What's my number?
304
:Am I…"
305
:99 was so disappointing.
306
:Yeah.
307
:But double digits is
better than triple, right?
308
:Right.
309
:Exactly.
310
:Um, we- How are you gonna
fit 1,000 on a jersey?
311
:Oh, you could, you could
fit a lot on a jersey.
312
:You could?
313
:Okay.
314
:It's an XL size.
315
:Yeah.
316
:It's an XL.
317
:We bring them up on stage one by one.
318
:We present them with the football jersey
with their name and their number on it.
319
:The whole room is engaged.
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:The music's- Mm … playing,
people are cheering.
321
:It's, it's super special.
322
:We even have people now dressing up.
323
:We had chains- I love it … and
sunglasses, hats, everything.
324
:Uh, and then we even
take it a step further.
325
:The jersey gets framed.
326
:It's paired with the photo from that
night on stage with Jim and High
327
:holding your jersey up loud and proud,
and it's sent back to the office.
328
:You'll walk into the advisor offices
and you see them hanging on the wall.
329
:So it becomes this conversation
piece and something they're really
330
:proud of, and people even, you know,
they, they compare their numbers.
331
:Um, the Clearwater office has all
of their conference room plastered.
332
:I mean, it's double layered.
333
:Love it.
334
:It's, it's awesome.
335
:Uh, we've even incorporated the
numbers into their name badges now,
336
:so it becomes part of how people are
identifying themselves at the firm.
337
:Um, so that's what
success looks like to me.
338
:It creates moments like that,
um, something fun, memorable, and
339
:reinforcing, again, that sense of
belonging in that very real, real way.
340
:I love that.
341
:That's, that's a lot of fun.
342
:That might be…
343
:You know, I've been to more industry-wide
conferences, not so much, um- Firm-wide
344
:conferences, but that might be my favorite
little- It's so cool … you know,
345
:end, uh, e- end of event, um, event.
346
:That, that's a lot of fun and-
I remember holding up my jersey.
347
:Yeah.
348
:I held it as taut as
possible- As proud and-
349
:with a grin from ear to ear.
350
:I love it.
351
:That's awesome.
352
:Manager six.
353
:Manager six.
354
:So, um, not to go too off track here,
for the NFL Draft, they had each player
355
:sign their football card on stage.
356
:Oh, that's cool.
357
:The Topps had their
football card right there.
358
:So maybe next you could take it-
Don't be surprised if you see it
359
:a step further, and each one can get their
own f- because y- my son loves baseball.
360
:I've created baseball cards for him.
361
:He loves baseball cards, and now
he'll autograph them, so maybe
362
:next time we could take it a step
further and have football cards.
363
:Put them in the little frames too.
364
:Yes, and then they can autograph them.
365
:Little protectors.
366
:Yes.
367
:Then you can start trading
football cards at your next one.
368
:I think you're onto something, Ryan.
369
:Do you need me to be, like, on your
staff for putting together items?
370
:You're in charge.
371
:Yeah.
372
:You're in charge.
373
:I think I- That's a great idea … I
think I better stick to podcasting.
374
:I might steal that.
375
:I might steal it.
376
:I better stick to podcasting.
377
:You gotta come to the 10th.
378
:Okay, sounds good.
379
:You might have your own card.
380
:Done.
381
:All right.
382
:Um, let's- Fast forward so that, you
know, the, the firm is growing super fast.
383
:Mm.
384
:Um, I guess I've, I had some great
conversations with folks at Steward,
385
:and they just talk about the growth in,
like, nine years, how much it's grown.
386
:How do you keep up that culture?
387
:And when new people are joining all
the time, and it's growing, and it's
388
:not just, like, in one office, it's
across the country, so I'm assuming
389
:culture is even harder to go across
the country growing as fast as it is.
390
:How do you make sure that culture
resonates in a growing firm?
391
:It's work.
392
:You know?
393
:It's work.
394
:It really comes down to being
intentional, uh, because culture
395
:just doesn't scale on its own.
396
:Mm-hmm.
397
:It can't.
398
:Uh, so as we've grown, we've
been very thoughtful about
399
:who we bring into the firm.
400
:It's not just about
production, growth potential.
401
:It's about alignment.
402
:Going back to what you were saying- Mm
403
:if you don't align with the values
and the mission, it's gonna be
404
:hard to be a part of that culture.
405
:Uh, we're looking for people who want to
be a part of something, who value how we
406
:operate, and who are going to contribute
to the culture in that meaningful way.
407
:Uh, you know, once people are here, now
it's about the consistency, their shared
408
:expectations around how we work, how
we communicate, how we make decisions,
409
:and how we support one another, and
that consistency is what helps kind
410
:of maintain that cohesiveness, um,
even as we just continue to grow.
411
:Um, the symposium plays a really
important role in that as well.
412
:It's where people really experience the
firm in that, you know, that concentrated
413
:way, how our leadership engages, how
our peers interact, and what it feels
414
:like to be part of Steward just beyond
that team that they work with locally.
415
:Um, I think that the key is that we don't
assume culture will just carry forward.
416
:We actively reinforce it.
417
:Uh, so it's something that we talk
about, something that we model,
418
:and something that we're very
deliberate in protecting as we grow.
419
:Mm-hmm.
420
:That's fantastic.
421
:So tying that culture into the
symposium, is there a moment from
422
:past symposiums where, that really you
remember, could have been nine years
423
:ago, could have been last year, where
you were like, "That really is…
424
:That captured what the culture
at Steward really is," where
425
:you were like, "You know what?
426
:That moment right there is all about
Steward and the culture that we built"?
427
:Yeah.
428
:I was like, I was thinking
back, you know, when I was…
429
:I was thinking back at the
years and, you know, we had a
430
:really cool moment last year.
431
:Um, but one, it, it stood out.
432
:We unveiled Stew-opoly.
433
:So again, Jim, our CEO,
came up with this idea.
434
:He says, "You know, Maria-" I think
we should make like a Monopoly
435
:game with Stewart, and let's, let's
put our offices on there, and, you
436
:know, we, you know, you keep talking
about it and you're crafting it.
437
:On the surface, it was just meant to be
something that was just fun, creative,
438
:that we were just gonna display.
439
:Yeah.
440
:Something really cool and
send it out to everyone.
441
:But it ended up representing
something a lot bigger.
442
:We took something that was super familiar,
it was reimagined, uh, every detail about
443
:it in a way that really reflected our
story, um, our partners, our journey,
444
:and what we've built together as a firm.
445
:So we made it so memorable that it wasn't
just Monopoly and that's cool that you
446
:just made it Stewart Partners Monopoly.
447
:It was how the people were
looking at it and reacting to it.
448
:They saw themselves in it.
449
:They're looking at the streets
and they're seeing their branch.
450
:Um, and it, you know, creates
the, another connection.
451
:It sparked the conversation, tons of
laughs, uh- … lots of pride in what
452
:we've created together, and it was,
it was really, really neat because
453
:it really was that reflection, you
know, as you're kind of going down the
454
:streets- Yeah … and again, no detail
was n- was left, left behind there.
455
:Um, but again, just to be able
to take a game like that- Yeah
456
:and make it meaningful, bring
people in, they loved it.
457
:It was great.
458
:Good.
459
:And now we, now we send it
out to our new hires, so.
460
:Love it.
461
:Be- so between, um, Stewart
Monopoly and then the jerseys, their
462
:offices are full of good stuff.
463
:Yeah.
464
:Talking po- On Zoom calls, you see the
Stewopoly on display- The Stewopoly
465
:in everyone's offices.
466
:Engagement.
467
:Yeah.
468
:It all- Yeah … leads to engagement.
469
:The chief of staff role
is often misunderstood.
470
:What does your role actually
look like at Steward?
471
:Is…
472
:And why is it so important
at a high-growth firm?
473
:Well, it's definitely hard to
define, I guess- … uh, 'cause it
474
:could be different, um, and it spans
across so many areas of the firm.
475
:Um, at its core, I guess, my role
is about alignment, execution.
476
:I work very closely with Jim and High,
our founders, and our senior leadership
477
:team, um, and I have visibility across
all of our business departments.
478
:Um, so it allows me to help connect
priorities, people, and all of
479
:the initiatives that we're trying
to work on in a meaningful way.
480
:Mm.
481
:Um, so in many ways, I'm helping ensure
that we're setting out to do as a
482
:firm actually, what we're trying to
do actually translates into action.
483
:Um, and that means keeping a pulse on
what's happening across the businesses,
484
:anticipating where support is needed,
and kinda removing that friction there
485
:so things can kind of move forward
effectively, smoothly, um, like that.
486
:So in a high-growth environment, there's
a lot happening, and my ho- my role
487
:really helps create that continuity
and just keeping the alignment there,
488
:um, the communication, making sure that
it remains clear, and that we're kinda
489
:executing in a way that's carrying
out those strategic priorities.
490
:Um, so because I've been here
since the beginning, there's also
491
:that responsibility to stay close
to the culture, making sure that
492
:as we grow, we don't lose it.
493
:Um, it's a role that sits right
at the intersection of strategy
494
:and execution culture, and in a
firm like ours, it's so important.
495
:Mm-hmm.
496
:Let's talk about that.
497
:That's fantastic, Maria, and you know,
there's culture I feel like y- and
498
:we're in such a competitive space.
499
:This space is m- more competitive
than ever, so you need any competitive
500
:advantage you can get, and culture can be
that, I believe, if, you know, if it's a
501
:real thing, not just a castle in the, in
the clouds, and it can be a competitive
502
:advantage in recruiting and retention.
503
:Do you think the industry really fully
understands how much culture drives
504
:business outcomes, or do they just
think, "Well, it's a nice to have.
505
:We say we have it," but,
um, do you think it's kinda
506
:misunderstood or underappreciated?
507
:I don't think that everyone
really- appreciates how directly it
508
:translates into successful outcome.
509
:Um, at Steward, we've seen it.
510
:Culture isn't separate from the business.
511
:It's what drives it, actually.
512
:Um, it impacts who you attract,
who you retain, and how people
513
:ultimately perform when they're here.
514
:Going back to that alignment,
uh, when people feel that
515
:alignment, they feel invested.
516
:When they understand what they're
a part of, it changes how they
517
:show up, just like anything else.
518
:Uh, they collaborate more.
519
:They take the ownership.
520
:They're more committed
to long-term success.
521
:It's not just the short-term result.
522
:Uh, and it shows up very,
in very tangible ways.
523
:There's strong recruiting here,
high retention, and again,
524
:that level of engagement that's
really hard To replicate.
525
:Mm-hmm.
526
:Um, so I think where some firms miss it
is they treat the culture as something
527
:you just, you define it instead of
something that you kind of live by,
528
:you continue to build it, and you kind
of, you put it into the decisions that
529
:you make, um, on a day-to-day basis.
530
:So for us, it's part of our structure,
it's our expectation, it's how we
531
:make the decisions, and it's not
a layer on top of the business.
532
:It drives that business, and I think
that's the most important part.
533
:Yeah, that's fantastic, Maria.
534
:And like I said, I've said it a lot in
all these conversations, you can see it.
535
:It's not, um, it's not,
you know, a fake culture.
536
:You can see it, uh, in everyone.
537
:Lastly, for the advisors or employees
out there listening to this, and maybe
538
:they've never been to a symposium, the
Steward Symposium, what would you say to
539
:them to make sure they never miss another
one, other than next year, the jerseys
540
:and the baseball card, football cards?
541
:What, uh, what can you tell them that,
uh, they're gonna come back every year?
542
:You've got- Or
sorry- … to experience it.
543
:You have to experience it.
544
:You can hear the people talk about it.
545
:You can look at all the pictures that we
send around, but until you're actually
546
:there feeling the energy, having the
conversations, and seeing how people
547
:come together, you don't, you don't- Mm
548
:really fully get it.
549
:Um, it's three days where you
step away from day to day.
550
:You're reconnecting with your firm,
with your peers, and with the bigger
551
:picture of, like, what we've built
and what we're building in the future.
552
:So you strengthen those relationships,
you get a new perspective, and you
553
:walk away with a different level
of energy and appreciation for
554
:what this partnership that we- Mm
555
:built really is.
556
:Um, and once you've experienced
that, you won't miss it again.
557
:You're, you're hooked.
558
:You're hooked.
559
:That's it.
560
:I love it.
561
:Maria, fantastic conversation.
562
:So much fun.
563
:I loved it.
564
:Loved talking about the symposium
and all the different fun things
565
:happening at, uh, Steward.
566
:Thank you so much for coming on.
567
:It's an honor.
568
:Oh my goodness, thank you for having me.
569
:This was fun.
570
:Good.
571
:Where can our audience get
more information about Steward
572
:Partners and the symposium?
573
:Well, you could visit us
at www.stewardpartners.com.
574
:Um, as for the symposium, it's
not super public, but if you
575
:reach out, um, yeah, if- Perfect.
576
:Reach out to, um, Maria yourself,
and we'll put all that information
577
:in the show notes for, uh, for
anyone looking for more information.
578
:Maria, thank you so much.
579
:And thank you everyone for listening to
this episode of Adjusted for Risk podcast.
580
:You can watch all of our other podcasts
on the Zephyr YouTube channel, Spotify,
581
:and anywhere else you get your podcasts.
582
:Let's get started.
583
:Thank you very much and have
a great rest of your week