As I watched the news coverage of the protests that have swept the nation, I experienced a mounting sense that change – real change – is needed in our country. Instead of a nation united, the turmoil across our great country indicates a nation divided. At the root of this unrest is a collective failure to deliver on our sacred and historic pledge of liberty and justice for all. We cannot hope to be our best and fully realize our potential as a nation until we vanquish, once and for all, the systemic inequalities that persist in our society. “We the people” must include everyone – or it includes no one.

In the discussions with our executive leadership team that followed, it quickly became clear that everyone felt the same way. There was unanimous agreement that we should express those feelings to our team of Financial Advisors and employees as well as our clients and the public.

As history has proven, it is sometimes only through the raising of our collective voices that we can ultimately achieve the unity and inclusion that are imperative to strengthening our country and extending the American Dream to everyone. And so, we are proud to add our voice to the growing chorus that is demanding liberty and justice for all – and committed to thoroughly examining new and creative ways we can promote and encourage feelings of unity and inclusion in our company and the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Mark Steffe, President/CEO