Member Spotlights: Celebrating 40 Years of Exceptional Advisors
Read this month’s Member Spotlight, as well as previous spotlights, and learn more about the community of success-minder advisors like you; committed to life-long learning, adherence to ethical standards, and the advancement of the financial advice industry.
This Month's 40th Anniversary Spotlight
Randy Garcia, CIMA®, AIFA®
CEO, Investment Counsel Company
Member Since 1986
What inspired you to join the Investments & Wealth Institute initially?:
A colleague from the Paine Webber (acquired by UBS) Phoenix office invited me to attend the first conference launching the Investments & Wealth Institute (formerly IMCA - Investment Management Consulting Association).
What do you like to do for fun?:
Adventuresome hikes always seem to get me excited. Our recent hike was to the Canadian Rockies for two weeks of heli-hiking with CMH, climbing next to glacier waterfalls, traveling across ziplines, going up via ferratas, and trekking from lodge to lodge.
What is something not many people know about you?:
I have been taking piano lessons for over 40 years, still a work in progress...
What has been the most valuable aspect of your membership over the years?:
The principles embraced by the Institute were the catalyst for me leaving Paine Webber after 10 years to start the first fiduciary wealth management company in Nevada. I believe the Institute’s principles are also the primary reason for the professional success I have enjoyed as a Barron’s/WSJ top 100 independent wealth advisor in the nation and #1 in Nevada.
What is the best vacation you've taken?:
My wife, Staci, and I combined 3 of Stephen Ambrose’s WW2 tours around the 75th anniversary of D-Day, June 5, 2019. We attended the D-Day ceremony with President Trump and President Macron at the U.S. Cemetery in Normandy and then followed the path of the Allied Forces, journeying from village to village, country to country for almost 30 days to Berlin. To be present on location is to truly appreciate, even more, the sacrifices of our military veterans.
Can you share one of your favorite memories from an Institute event or program?:
During the Institute’s inaugural conference, the newly appointed Board of Directors asked who is interested in becoming the Chairman of the Education Committee. I was the only person to raise my hand. With support from Matt McArthur and other fellow committee members, I suggested that it would be advantageous for our organization to align with a top 10 university, preferably an Ivy League institution, such as Harvard, to gain the recognition and credibility our organization sought to achieve.
As the Institute celebrates 40 years, what are your hopes for its future?:
I hope that members of the Institute can continue to lead and shape the future direction of our industry with the dedication, enthusiasm and conviction of those who served before them to have an even farther-reaching positive and sustainable impact.
Past Spotlights
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