The brackets are set, the basketballs are tipped, and March Madness is officially underway. Oak Partners celebrated the occasion on the tournament’s opening day, March 21, by inviting clients out to Culinary Misfits in Crown Point.
Oak Partners, a wealth management services firm has been celebrating March Madness’ opening day for over a decade – this year marking the twelfth such celebration. Every year, the firm visits a different restaurant or bar, one big enough to host the nearly 200 clients who attend and offers up food, drinks, and fellowship.
“It’s wonderful to see such a great turnout. Our clients always show up,” said Jason Urbaniak, managing partner and wealth advisor at Oak Partners. “This is just a cool, different kind of event that everyone enjoys.”
Crystal DeHaven, director of client experience at Oak Partners, plans out every client experience alongside her team. She is always looking to bring new and exciting experiences to the team’s clients. Culinary Misfits is spacious, with a large bar and diverse menu and is also one of the newest eateries in the community.
“The venue has such a great ambiance, plus it’s such a great fit for all the March Madness games on at once,” DeHaven said. “Everyone has been pleased by their experience here. There’s great food and great company, and everyone loves basketball. It’s just a fun relaxed event.”
Clients are rarely far from their advisors’ minds, and Urbaniak mentioned that he and the other partners are almost always scouting for new event venues.
“Some of us, when we’re out dining on our own, can’t help but think about it,” he said. “I’d come by this place with my wife, and we were sitting there watching the Notre Dame game. You kind of just look around and think ‘can Oak Partners fit here?’ This happens to be one of the restaurants that’s hip, new, has good food, and is big enough to hold us.”
Oak Partners packs its calendar with about 40 events a year, many of which are business-related – focused on the markets and stocks. Partner Mike Barancyk appreciates the annual March Madness as a way to break away from the norm and have a conversation about family, friends, or the games over a quality meal.
“It’s one of my favorite days of the year,” he said. “I enjoy watching basketball, I enjoy the tournament, and for me to be able to share that fun with our clients is fantastic. I call this work, but it’s not really.”
Barancyk said that building that client relationship beyond talking about numbers and the markets is a critical part of what makes Oak Partners special.
“It’s not just stocks and bonds, it’s not just helping with finances,” he said. “It’s financial coaching from now, through the rest of your life, through every phase and every chapter that you have. When you work with someone for so long, you become friends, you become a real part of their life. So, seeing a turnout like today is gratifying. It tells us that we’re doing what we should be doing.”
To learn more about Oak Partners, visit oakpartners.com. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.