Patrick Murray, CFP®, CFA

What inspired you to pursue your career in financial management?

I did not come from a family of financial means so I learned at a very young age how to manage my finances and to prioritize my short and long-term goals. As I paid my way through undergraduate and graduate school and lived off the money I earned during the summers each school year, I quickly developed an appreciation for the value of money and the importance of being disciplined in terms of a long-term financial plan. As I contemplated the career I wanted to pursue, it quickly became clear that a career in wealth management would be a perfect fit.

Was there a specific incident in your life that made it clear you were made for this career?

I started my career in private wealth management at Deutsche Bank. We primarily offered investment advisory services to individuals and families. In 2014, I was invited to learn more about Cerity Partners (then called HPM Partners) and their comprehensive approach to wealth management. Our CEO, Kurt Miscinski, shared his vision about building a world-class, independent wealth management firm in which advisors always acted in our clients' best interests. Coming from the institutional global banking world that was fraught with conflicts of interest, this instantly resonated with me and I knew that both Cerity Partners and providing comprehensive wealth management services was where I belonged.

Why is your work important, especially today?

Our services are important today, more than ever, for a number of reasons. There is so much conflicting information available to clients so they rely on us as a sounding board to provide them with clarity on issues surrounding retirement planning, investments, estate planning, insurance planning, and tax planning. We find ourselves in an ever-changing regulatory environment so providing clients with a framework that allows them to be flexible and nimble as the landscape evolves gives them the foundation to meet their goals and objectives. With the markets down ~20% year to date, we must be available to clients to guide them through these difficult times and to serve as a reminder to be patient and to stay the course.

What should your clients know the most about you?

My clients should know that I truly care. When a client is going through a difficult family or financial situation, if often keeps me up at night if I can't immediately provide them with guidance. They should know that I will work tirelessly to find a solution. I am also fortunate to be part of an organization with a collaborative and collegial culture that encourages colleagues to share ideas and to provide alternative perspectives to assist clients.

What kind of clients work best for you?

My ideal clients are individuals and families who are "coachable" and are actively seeking advice. I prefer to work with active wealth creators and always welcome working with multiple generations of families to maximize generational wealth planning opportunities.

What differentiates Cerity Partners from other firms in our space?

Since I joined Cerity Partners back in 2014, I have watched the firm grow and improve. We have entered new markets, added new talented colleagues, and expanded our service offerings. As the firm has enjoyed tremendous success, our unwavering commitment to our clients has remained our primary focus. When you bring together a group of highly experienced professionals who do the right things the right way for the right reasons, it creates a formula for success.

What do you do in your personal life that helps you help your clients?

I always try to do the right thing in my personal and professional life. This has enabled me to develop relationships with clients built on trust. They know that I will always act with integrity and can trust that I will always act in their best interests.

How would you describe your best day doing what you do?

Each day, I am afforded the opportunity to learn something new across a broad range of disciplines. That coupled with the fact that I get to interact with clients who have varying levels of sophistication and come from an array of backgrounds makes every day unique and enjoyable. My best day is helping a client navigate a challenging situation that ultimately enables them to carry out their intentions and meet their goals and objectives.