Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. is built around a commitment to provide their clients with industry-leading service and financial advisement. Understanding the markets and making smart investments is crucial – but building strong relationships with each client is equally important. One way of accomplishing that is through Benjamin F. Edwards’ monthly client appreciation events, such as May and June’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations.
Financial Advisor Jeff Fernandez led the planning for the Mother’s Day Celebration, an educational collaboration with Valparaiso’s Old World Market where owner Patty Locke taught Benjamin F. Edwards’ clients how to make and coordinate a charcuterie board. Each client received a gift package with different meats and cheeses and then took part in a virtual class led by Locke.
“We thought it’d be a fun, unique way to appreciate our clients who are mothers and some of their friends as well,” Fernandez said. “The idea came after I talked with one of my friends about how her mom always makes a charcuterie tray for holidays. I’d just been to the Old World Market and saw its beautiful trays, and I just thought this lesson would be a great way to support a local business and show some appreciation to our clients.”
Fernandez was initially worried that the clients might be feeling “Zoomed-out” after the pandemic, but the turnout was high, and the feedback was great.
“It was just like we were all together, we didn’t really mute the lines,” he said. “We all had our glasses of wine and learned about how these boards come together – why you put prosciutto in there, why you add blue cheese stuffed olives. Everything I heard from clients was overwhelmingly positive. We even had a few people use the charcuterie boards they made for family gatherings.”
He was especially excited to have the opportunity to celebrate Mother’s Day specifically.
“It was great to acknowledge mothers, how important they are to our lives, and the tremendous influence they are,” he said. “I have a two year old, and witnessing my wife become a mother was an amazing thing to see. I just wanted to find a way to appreciate that.”
It was the first time Locke had participated in a virtual class, and she is considering ways to incorporate similar activities into her business after the experience.
“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “It was just phenomenal. Even weeks after the event, their clients are still coming in and telling me how much fun they had. They were so excited to show me their masterpieces.”
This week, Benjamin F. Edwards is coordinating a similar event for Father’s Day – a virtual cooking class with McGowan & Sons.
“The owner and chef, Rob McGowan, is preparing a special menu with gift bags for our clients to pick up,” Fernandez said. “They’ll log on to Microsoft Teams, and he’ll walk us through cooking the whole meal with their outstanding fresh fish.”
To learn more about Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. visit https://benjaminfedwards.com/.
2021-1587
Exp. 6/30/24