The story of 2020 is yet to be over, but it will be a year that will never be forgotten. We have faced some of the greatest challenges as a company, namely the battle that the co-founder of our namesake, Nate Condon, has undertaken. As his winding road towards recovery has taken its twists and turns, we are happy to report that he has improved from a rather grave position just a short six weeks ago to improving metrics and hopefulness that a serious but necessary surgery will finally be the answer to long-term health. There is one major surgery in Nate’s future that is expected to ultimately get him better, and we anticipate a full recovery.
We will have answers in the next couple of months on how long this journey will take, but his strength and resolve have been awe-inspiring. And speaking of awe-inspiring, the way Sylina, Nate’s wife, has taken on the role of full-time caregiver during this process has been the most incredible example of true, selfless love and devotion. Nothing reveals the core of a person or a relationship like these types of sudden, life-changing events, and the whole Condon family has proven to be solid as a rock. The Walkner Condon team is certainly happy to have our rock back, as Nate’s strength and nutrition has improved, and he has been able to become involved again in our weekly meetings.
Despite these unforeseen challenges, we still have a job to do. Jon, Mitch, and Keith have thrived under the virtual meeting environment, and we have collectively worked to enhance the client experience through technology. Each day as clients become more adjusted to the nuances of working together online, the process gets easier to navigate and more personal. We have recently purchased software that will further assist us in gathering and sharing personalized data with secure document sharing. This will also help us conduct our strategy meetings through a more efficient way by getting updated client information prior to our appointment.
In late August, we had another unforeseen development when Stan Farmer and Syl Michelin began discussions about joining us as financial advisors. It was a natural fit with Keith previously working with these two talented individuals. And, at the two months+ mark of tenure, we can report that they are indeed excellent at what they do, as well as great fits for the “comfortably unique” office culture we all enjoy so much. And we would be remiss to not mention Hannah’s contributions during this time, as she has been instrumental in Stan and Syl’s success in onboarding. Her positive attitude and ability to offer a trusted perspective on many topics is invaluable.
The interesting thing about change is that it is unyielding and unrepentant, but it is your choice whether to embrace it or allow it to become a barrier to true progress. Even “good” change can be a painfully uneven experience, but regardless of what iteration of change you face, it forces you to look inward and accept your own limitations. For me, it is the understanding that I cannot be all things to all people, and that I will simply never be good at all things. Even things I enjoy doing, I realize that a true specialist is far better suited for than someone that dabbles.
Resultantly, two new employees have recently joined us and we will be embarking on a new venture with the goal of expanding our service level to our clients. Dan Corcoran, marketing and social media specialist, was added to our team with the goal of telling our story and increasing our engagement and communication. We believe that being “comfortably unique” is our secret sauce, and adding staff that can help us get this message out is incredibly valuable.
Next, Anna Lautenbach is a highly credentialed financial advisor that will also be assisting us with compliance responsibilities. She also will be partnering with us to establish tax services as a new entity. We believe that we can offer the same customized, friendly experience on the tax consulting and preparation side to compliment our investment management and financial planning services to both Wisconsin-based and U.S. expat clients. We intend on carrying forward our prompt response time and ease of doing business, and offering clear and concise advice from Walkner Condon Financial Advisors to Walkner Condon Tax Services.
On behalf of the partners, Nate and Jon, we look forward with optimistic eyes and hearts. We are humbled by our clients’ genuine care for us as a group. We exist because of all of you, and we will tirelessly strive to make your experience with comprehensive wealth management an exemplary one.
The future is bright.
Clint Walkner