The World & WAM: 30 Years in Review
Carolyn Taylor, President & Founding Partner | Yoshi Brownlee, Marketing & Communications Advisor | October 30, 2024
Weatherly Asset Management was established in October of 1994 as an independent investment advisor focused on wealth management. Looking back, the world as we knew it in the Fall of 1994 is nearly unrecognizable. In the 30 years since Weatherly was founded, we have seen the meteoric rise of the internet, adapted to 5 different presidential administrations, witnessed the launch of 4 out of 5 FAANG stocks, weathered a global pandemic and much more. While life is certainly different these days, one thing that has not changed is Weatherly’s comprehensive approach to all aspects of a client’s financial life, the extensive experience of our principals, and accessibility to experts on our team. In this month’s blog, we reflect on the past 30 years of WAM and how the world has changed with us.
The Weatherly Approach
Weatherly was founded 30 years ago with the same core pillars we have today – customized investment management and comprehensive planning for clients. Our accounts are managed with each client’s specific situation and goals in mind, utilizing individual stocks and bonds to maximize returns and tax efficiency. Our approach to financial planning has evolved with changing policies and market conditions over the past 3 decades, encompassing tax, family, and business planning and philanthropic strategies as well as wealth and estate guidance.
Our ultimate goal is to create meaningful impact in our clients’ lives so they can focus on their families, business and community.
THE FIRST 10 YEARS 1994-2004
In the early days of Weatherly, equity values grew exponentially as internet-based technology companies dominated the stock market. This period of massive growth and significant change set the stage for Weatherly’s beginnings. The Firm closing out its first decade serving 136 families with $100 million in assets under management.
WEATHERLY’S TEEN YEARS 2004-2014
The second decade of Weatherly brought us household terms like “Gmail” and “iPhone” while we watched as both U.S and international markets experienced high levels of volatility during the 2008 global economic crisis. Netflix began its transition to streaming and Bitcoin shuffled cryptocurrency into the mainstream.
WAM’S ROARING TWENTIES 2014-2024
The mid-2010s-20s ushered in a new era at Weatherly, we added 4 Partners to Firm leadership, underwent a full rebrand of our logo and website, and made impactful advancements in technology infrastructure, but we weren’t the only thing changing. The past 10 years were filled with “unprecedented events” including Brexit, the rise of meme stocks, a global pandemic and much more.
Celebrating 30 Years
In honor of our 30th year in business, our team has dedicated extra time and resources to the growth and welfare of our community. To keep up with our community involvement, you can check out our Culture & Community page.
Donor Advised Fund
Weatherly annually gives back approximately 1% of net income via our Donor Advised Fund. This year each member of our team selected two charities to receive funds, for a total of 30 donations in addition to our regular annual commitment.
Event Sponsorship and Community Involvement
By year end, our team will have supported 30 local causes – either by volunteering time or philanthropic and industry sponsorships. We’ve given back in areas of food insecurity, environmental clean-up, and child and animal welfare amongst others and the continued development of our professional colleagues.
Thank You
Our team is very proud to celebrate our anniversary with the clients, colleagues and community that made our mutual success possible.
We were thrilled to host some of our clients at our 30th Anniversary Client Appreciation Event at Powerhouse Community Center in Del Mar for an evening of wonderful food, drinks and even better company. Thank you to all who were able to make it out for the evening, we wouldn’t have wanted to celebrate any other way!
** The information provided should not be interpreted as a recommendation, no aspects of your individual financial situation were considered. Always consult a financial professional before implementing any strategies derived from the information above.