From the Bullpen to Wealth Management with Eric Sobocinski

When Eric graduated from law school, his goal was to become a sports lawyer, helping athletes untangle their complicated web of money, taxes, and asset protection. In fact, as a relief pitcher in his younger years, Eric started his career giving advice from the bullpen. Despite his enthusiasm, when he started his first job at a law firm, Eric realized that being on the clock prevented authentic conversations and deep relationships with clients. Trying his hand at an insurance agency and trust company, Eric figured selling products and focusing solely on asset management wouldn’t fulfill him either. Launching Amphora Wealth Management in 2011, Eric found the destination his career had been leading him to all along. In this episode, Eric talks with Steve about how practicing law shaped his relationship with clients, the importance of redefining what success looks like, how Eric built a process for ensuring authentic client conversations, and why clients’ comments about why they’ve left previous advisors is a telling reminder for us all.   Key Takeaways [01:19] - An overview of Amphora Wealth Management.  [03:21] - Why Eric hasn’t needed to expand his staff.  [06:20] - What Eric was doing before wealth management and his decision to form Amphora.  [13:26] - How Eric describes his relationship with clients and his philosophy on honest advice.  [18:53] - Why ambiance matters in Eric’s discovery meetings. [20:47] - The major difference between being an estate planner and acting as a comprehensive advisor.  [23:26] - Why Eric spends less time fixing previous mistakes and his general approach to making corrections.  [25:11] - What Eric’s client base looks like.  [27:08] - The challenge of working with metric-minded clients.  [29:41] - What Eric spends the most time on with clients.  [33:15] - How Eric handles clients who aren’t a strong fit.  [36:45] - How Eric stays abreast of financial trends.    Quotes [18:15] - “You have to really understand your client and how to deliver the message and when to deliver the message. They might not be ready to hear what you have to say.” ~ Eric Sobocinski  [25:00] - “The more time we have, the better we know the clients, the better we’re able to give them advice.” ~ Eric Sobocinski  [36:19] - “If anyone calls and you don’t want to talk to them, they probably shouldn’t be your client.” ~ Eric Sobocinski    Links  Eric Sobocinski  Amphora Wealth Management Amy Waheed Northwestern Mutual Dimensional Fund Advisors Rose Bowl Parade The University of North Carolina Villanova University Duke University Philadelphia Phillies   Connect with our hosts Steve on LinkedIn Buckingham Strategic Partners   Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Steve on LinkedIn Follow Buckingham Strategic Partners  on Twitter