I have always been someone who feels a duty to help others. My decision to become a financial advisor was made many years ago. I was discussing career paths that fit with my personal values with a friend as we drove through the Nevada desert on our way home from a Montana fly fishing trip. My friend suggested that I be a financial advisor because so many people need assistance from a person that will treat them with compassion, respect and provide transparency while advising them regarding their financial decisions.
After researching the industry a bit more and hearing similar advice from other people, I made the decision to accept a position with Dean Witter Reynolds in Sacramento, CA.
My early years in the business with Dean Witter were a great introduction to the hard work and long hours needed to build a successful business as a financial advisor. More importantly, however, were the lessons learned about the conflict of interest which can develop between an investor, the advisor and the Financial Services firm. I quickly learned that I would need to step off the beaten path in order to provide sound advice that measured up to the ethical standards which I demanded of myself and which I felt my clients truly desired.
In 1998 I relocated to Chico, CA where I continued to build my practice whiled affiliated with Edward Jones. During my tenure with Edward Jones I continued to assist my clients to make prudent investment decisions and helping them to focus on the importance of building diversified portfolios structured to their individual tolerance for risk. As a result of my desire to further separate my self from the conflicts of interest that can arise in the traditional commission based investment model I began researching the possibility of offering a fee-based alternative. This discovery period also introduced me to the philosophy of passive investing. The more I learned the greater became my resolve that I needed to evolve once again.
In 2006, I left Edward Jones and founded Murray Financial Services. The change allowed me to become an Independent Financial Advisor and to serve my clients in the manner that I had long desired. As an independent advisor I have no incentive to promote any one investment over another. Rather, I am now able to provide non-biased advice in a very transparent environment.
Away from the office I have been very active in my community as current member of the
Chico Noon Rotary Club, past board member for
The Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters and
Chico Country Day School. I am a past recipient of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Professional award, the Boy’s and Girl’s Club President’s Award and I started the first youth rugby program in Chico.
Most importantly I value time with my wife Janie and our three children, Regan, Brenna and Keaton.
