Today Was Our Last Day at Asset Management Group
Today was our last day at Asset Management Group, and it reminded me of the last day of high school.
As I boxed up the last of my things, the things I’d take with me, I remembered where I’d felt this way before. It was a warm day in late May, and the anticipation to graduate had risen along with the north valley temperatures. Plans had been laid for a year- college commitments were made. Trips were planned. Congratulations cards came rolling in. Summer had almost arrived, and suddenly, all at once, the nostalgia sank in.
Today, my last day at Asset Management Group, it came back- I reflected on my unbelievable 10 years there. I packed up business cards, old articles we had done. I carefully folded all the thank you cards from fundraisers, Christmas cards from clients, business cards from our professional friends. Pens reminded me of jokes and comradery at conferences with some of the people I respect most. Mutual fund brochures remind me of the long discussions we would all have around the large conference table after the investment providers would leave. I learned everything I know about serving our clients between those walls over a decade. I have nothing but love and gratitude for my AMG family.
The word nostalgia comes from Greek origins, which describes of the ache that goes with a longing to return home. It’s not quite perfect here, because I’m incredibly excited about how we’ve been improving our business over the past couple of years. The culmination of all of that, is of course, moving to a new office. After months of planning, committing to designs, shopping for furniture, receiving congratulations from friends, we’ve moved. Our vision for the business and environment for our clients is crystal clear, and we’re arriving.
I remember unpacking my thoughts in high school about the pull between fond memories and creating exciting new ones. “Even if you stayed, it wouldn’t be the same” I wrote to the graduating class in our final school paper. The rivers of change are always flowing. In high school, entire classes of students graduate. Teachers retire or move. New kids move to your class, and entire new classes of freshmen join the school.
The current of change has flowed through AMG as well. We’ve had friends leave for new opportunities. We’ve seen partners join their thousands of clients in the retirement club they planned for. Paradise AMG partners moved into the building in November. Our “junior” partners are getting more experience, and turning around to give opportunities to a new class of juniors. There was never a single moment that it sat still.
To borrow from Hemingway: Big changes, like when children grow up or people decide to move on, seem to happen twice: gradually at first, then suddenly. What we take with us are the things that last: relationships, fond memories, life lessons. In high school, you only take a class twice if you haven’t learned the lessons. If you have learned, your prize is moving on to a new challenge.
Our new challenge is here, and we couldn’t be more excited to create a new set of memories.