Greg is a Managing Director and co-founder of the CS Wealth Management Group, a team within Capitol Securities Management, Inc. where he also serves a Member of the Board of Directors. Since 1985, Greg has advised clients on various financial activities, such as providing strategic planning, and managing of investment and retirement funds for individual investors.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO CAPITOL SECURITIES MANAGEMENT?
I began a career in financial services in 1985, with my formal training coming from E. F. Hutton & Co. which later became Shearson Lehman Hutton. I helped start a small investment firm in 1990, Washington Investment Corporation, where I met Bill. Washington Investment Corporation was sold to Capitol Securities Management in 1999; Joe Jianos (CEO) had a great reputation, we felt confident that we would be in good hands. The partnership Bill and I have under the Capitol Securities Management umbrella works well for all of us.
HOW DID YOUR CLIENTS REACT WHEN THEY LEARNED YOU WERE JOINING CAPITOL SECURITIES MANAGEMENT?
Well, it helps that neither Bill nor I have a blemish on our compliance record, which is testament to doing business the right way. Our clients had been with us through the rise and fall of the markets– ’87, the early 90’s, ’94, ’97—we had earned their trust and the response was overwhelmingly favorable.
THE CAPITOL SECURITIES MISSION IS SIMPLE: TO SUPPORT ADVISORS WITH THE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO SERVE EACH CLIENT’S VERY BEST INTERESTS. TELL US HOW THIS APPLIES TO YOU.
We do have a lot of freedom, and it also extends to getting creative in the way we deliver our services. For example, when a client asked us to oversee and advise on corporate investments held and managed by other investment firms, Senior Management was open minded and worked with us to develop the ways and means to do so. It’s becoming more commonplace these days, but at the time, we were pioneering a new service model. It’s refreshing when Senior Management doesn’t shy away from that kind of forward-thinking.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THE CAPITOL SECURITIES CULTURE?
The firm has grown a lot since we first came on board, but Senior Management has been very careful to balance the culture with the growth. They have an open-door policy and they encourage individuality. For example, I wear a suit and tie every day because I choose to do so. Bill is my partner, and yet, he prefers a more casual approach.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A FINANCIAL ADVISOR CONSIDERING A CAREER WITH CAPITOL SECURITIES?
Absolutely. You have to be self-directed, driven, and entrepreneurial. This is not an environment where you will be told to make a certain number of calls or focus on a specific product.
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
I tend to focus on market and business-related books, but recently I’ve been reading text books. I’m currently studying for an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) designation through the College for Financial Planning. Capitol Securities is very pro-education and reimburses financial advisors for business-related accreditations.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL NEXT?
I used to be an avid traveler, but I have two young children—ages 5 and 2. Lately, I’ve been restricted to arm-chair travel, following Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America wherever they may go.
