Insight

To my valued clients,

As I sit down to write this Thanksgiving letter, which I’ve done for over 40 years, my heart is filled with gratitude, and I want to kick things off by wishing all of you a joyous and healthy Thanksgiving overflowing with happiness. You see, I consider myself one of the luckiest individuals in the world. From a very young age, I chose a career that has not only been immensely fulfilling but has also been a source of unending happiness.

I remember a Thanksgiving letter from years ago when I declared I’d never want to retire. That letter brought forth a call from my Uncle from New York, who shared the same sentiment. He worked until his very last day and passed away a very happy man.

I must acknowledge that I never could have cofounded BBPWM and achieved many of my goals without the unwavering support and assistance of so many wonderful people. When my oldest child, my son Scott, expressed an interest in our business, I immediately took him up on it. Scott possesses intelligence, education, wisdom, and communication skills that far surpass my own, but what truly makes him exceptional is his kindness. This makes me incredibly proud. I consider myself fortunate to have my son Scott and my other partners by my side, helping all of us pursue our goals.

Justin Capetola, a co-founder of our business, brings his remarkable abilities to the table. His calm, rational approach to navigating the market, ability to inspire our coworkers, and knack for building enduring relationships are truly outstanding. Justin is not just a great businessman; he’s also a devoted family man, which is one of the marks of a great person.

Jon Sobotkin joined us shortly after we founded the business and has played an integral role in our incredible growth. With a background in managing money for the Penn State Lion Fund, Jon not only embraced our investment philosophy but enhanced it. He’s a man who never takes shortcuts, always seeking a better way to do things. Without his outstanding technology skills, we wouldn’t be able to continue to improve our incredible investment models.

Scott, Justin, and Jon are always on the lookout for ways to improve our company, enhance communication, make wise investment choices, and assist our clients in all of their financial matters. Combined with cutting-edge technology, they are a significant reason I take immense pride in BBPWM.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, and I consider my coworkers and clients part of my extended family. Just in the past two months, I had the privilege of spending time with a remarkable lady who has been a client for over 50 years and even attended my wedding. I was also fortunate to meet with the grandson of a client who played a pivotal role in our business’s growth. This client graciously referred all of his friends and relatives to me early in my career, and now his grandson is following in his footsteps. With four and five generations of clients and long-term relationships with my coworkers, how could I ever think of retiring?

We believe in the thought of “Building your financial future together.” I have always believed in a team approach and believe we have a Five Star group. As I mentioned earlier, I am lucky to have a wonderful team that has grown to 11 members, and the over 300 college and high school interns we mentored and who have assisted us with their talents and energy.

I wish I could continue and spend more time and space introducing you to all my coworkers and their families, but I’ve had to keep this letter concise so that you can read it and still have plenty of time to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner. I hope you enjoy pictures of our growing BBPWM family.

To all the new families reading my Thanksgiving letter for the first time, I extend a warm welcome. Best wishes to all of our clients and their families, many of whom I’ve known for years. It is because of you that I genuinely consider myself one of the luckiest people alive.

With heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes, J. Scott Miller.