With warm weather settling in, Oak Partners welcomed their clients to their Sunset Social Luau. Hosted at Hebron’s Design Barn and featuring a creative buffet of Mexican foods and desserts, the wealth management and financial planning team took the opportunity to connect and socialize with their clients without talking business.
The Sunset Social is one of many similar events Oak Partners organizes for their clients – including things like ice skating, drive-in movies, barbeques, and more. This social, however, was the first to follow a particular theme – the luau – and the client experience team wanted to make sure it stood out on their event calendar.
“It’s the big kick-off to spring,” said Crystal DeHaven, director of client experience. “The idea is really simple; it’s a chance to mingle and relax with our clients. We love any opportunity to talk with them, learn more about them, and have a good time.”
DeHaven knew that having a fantastic venue would be one of the biggest factors in making the luau a success. A team member suggested they use the Design Barn, a creative venue by Hebron's design team at Mixdesign, that blends rural and industrial, along with catering from 312 Cafe and the popular Manta Food Truck.
“It’s a super cool space, it just has a great vibe,” DeHaven said. “We’ve used it to host strategy meetings before and liked it so much that we decided to host the luau here. As the clients filter in we’re going to open up the garage doors, that’ll give it kind of an airy feeling and we’ll get to enjoy the sunset.”
Mario Ruiz, partner and wealth advisor, was excited to bring their clients out to an exciting location, and get the chance to catch up with them about matters other than finance.
“We’re always in communication with our clients, but this is a chance to meet them in a completely different setting,” he said. “We really get to know them better, and on a different level than we can in a business meeting. There’s a human side to what we do, it’s not just about numbers and money. It’s about connecting with people.”
Team Leader and Partner Marc Ruiz echoed those thoughts, stressing the importance of building a strong relationship with every client – with events such as the Sunset Social being a key part of the equation.
“Advising a family on their planning over a decade, two decades, or three decades – you really have to have a really in-depth understanding of them as human beings, as family units,” he said. “That takes a long time to cultivate and grow, and events like this are super helpful.”
Marc Ruiz knows that there are a lot of challenges weighing on his client’s minds, and having a night to get away from it all can make a world of difference.
“The work we do is serious work and this is a serious time, so the opportunity to get out, enjoy some stories, some cocktails, and some Mexican food is priceless,” he said. “Tomorrow morning, it’s back to serious work.”
To learn more about Oak Partners, visit www.oakpartners.com. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.