Oak Partners celebrated the onset of March Madness on Thursday evening, inviting its clients out to catch the annual college basketball tournament at Public Bar & Rec, one of the newest additions to the Crown Point Square.
The wealth management and financial planning firm has made an event out of March Madness for years. Each time, the Oak Partners team goes to a different bar for an evening of food, drinks, and camaraderie. This time around, clients filtered in and out of Public Bar & Rec throughout the day, catching the games on countless screens spread throughout the bar or simply chatting and catching up on life.
“IU and Purdue are scheduled to play tomorrow but as you can see it didn’t stop the crowd from coming today,” said Crystal DeHaven, director of the client experience at Oak Partners. “We came out to Public Bar & Rec – we like to keep things fresh for our clients and give them a taste of something new in the Region. We’re excited to be able to spend time with our clients in an informal setting.”
Oak Partners hosts about 40 events a year, covering a huge spectrum of themes and topics. Many are business-related – opportunities for clients to learn more about markets or investing. Others, like March Madness, are purely recreational.
“We want to talk to our clients without them having to think about investments, the stock market, or the economy,” said Steve Kavois, partner and wealth advisor at Oak Partners. “Tonight, we forget about all that and just watch some basketball and have a good time.”
Some of Oak Partners’ clients have been with the firm for over a decade, and make an effort to come out to social events so they can catch up with their advisors on a personal level.
“There’s no talk about accounts, reviews, or investments,” Kavois said. “They can see us with our sleeves rolled up a little bit, it’s more relaxed, more casual. We can talk to them as friends about Purdue or Indiana basketball, or whatever else it may be. We can build that relationship as people, not just as an advisor and their client.”
Jason Urbaniak, managing partner and wealth advisor, said that events like their March Madness festivities and the more personal relationship as a whole are a key part of what makes them successful.
“It’s crucial, it’s the difference between being only a money manager and being a financial planner who is a money manager but understands the needs of their clients,” he said. “You have to know more than how to work with money in this business. There’s moving, weddings, births, and all kinds of life cycles that our clients go through, and knowing them on a personal level makes all of that easier and makes them feel welcome. We’re a friend to turn to, not just a money manager.”
Of all the events Oak Partners hosts, the March Madness event is always highlighted on his calendar.
“We created this, it’s a unique, first day of the NCAA Tournament event,” Urbaniak said. “We get a lot of clients here purely for fun, eating, and drinking.”
To learn more about Oak Partners, visit oakpartners.com.
Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.
