That’s me in the black T-shirt and Jimmy in the middle…
Our journey took an unexpected turn on our second day of a sailboat charter vacation in the British Virgin Islands. As we embarked on one of the longest sailing routes, our engine throttle got stuck, leaving us in a precarious situation. We had no other option but to contact the main office for assistance. The charter rental company assured us they would dispatch a mechanic promptly, but the dwindling daylight added a sense of urgency to our predicament.
Although my sailing resume is respectable, I was not an engine mechanic. I also felt like we could be due for more trouble since we were already experiencing mechanical issues on our second day at sea. Later that afternoon, the mechanic and his two-person crew showed up. I knew we were in good hands immediately when I made eye contact with the rescue boat captain named Jimmy. He seemed very relaxed and confident at the same time. He seemed like one of those people you meet in certain situations; you just have a gut feeling that they can handle anything. Jimmy appeared prepared by how he was dressed in his foul-weather jacket hung loosely on his body, a pair of sharp UV sunglasses, and a salty pair of flip-flops.
While the mechanics went down below to fix the engine, I took this opportunity to introduce myself to Jimmy and ask him if he would be interested in captaining our boat since my confidence in our boat had diminished dramatically. I enjoyed his accent and learned that he is from Tebogo. After discussing our stressful situation with him, I asked him if he would be available to take over as boat captain. This would provide extra insurance for any mechanical problems and a speedy tour of the remaining islands since we only had a few more sailing days left on our trip. Fortunately, Jimmy was available and agreed to meet us the following day to captain our boat for the remainder of our charter.
Everyone aboard loved having Jimmy as our captain. He acted as our private tour guide and showed us places we never would have discovered. Jimmy anchored us even closer than I would have been able to, which included access to some of the best snorkeling spots. We all had a great time with Jimmy. We shared stories and took pictures together. Jimmy rescued a potential disaster into a beautiful and memorable vacation.
When I think about n how fortunate we were to have met Jimmy reminded me of why I chose to become a Certified Financial Planner®. I want to provide all my clients with the same confidence level from my years of experience in financial markets. My experience in the financial markets includes navigating market volatility directly from the trading floors in Chicago during the Dot-com crash, the events of September 11th, the 2008 financial crisis, the 2012 flash crash, and working with high net-worth retail clients during the 2020 Covid market panic. Everyone needs someone like Jimmy, who brings first-hand experience and a sense of confidence to help them minimize their emotions during market volatility. I am confident that my extensive financial markets experience will enable my clients to feel confident having me as their captain and assist them in separating their emotions from successfully reaching their financial goals.
Your financial decisions should always be made in the context of your financial plan and personal goals. As a tax-focused financial planning firm, we strategically plan for the tax implications and walk you through our financial planning process. Feel free to contact us at www.CadencePlanningChicago.com or www.CadencePlanningLLC.com to learn more.
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