As a coaching firm that focuses on the industry’s best financial advisors, ClientWise has much to be thankful for. Six years ago, we founded ClientWise with the intention of serving top financial advisors by providing top financial advisor coaching.
Despite one of the worst global economic climates since the Great Depression, our firm has seen sizeable growth. For all of you who have helped us in our growth, we thank you. We would also like to use this holiday to pause and take a moment to reflect on ALL that we are grateful for: our family, friends, health, love, and life. From all of us at ClientWise, we thank you…our top financial advisor clients, friends, and associates…for your support and friendship.
In celebration of this most American of national holidays, we also wanted to share a special Thanksgiving tale. As a top financial advisor yourself, we trust that this season brings you much to be thankful for. As such, we believe that the following story has particular resonance today.
The fall of 1863 was a depressingly dark period in a nation riven by an appalling civil war. The Battle of Gettysburg, with more than 50,000 dead, lingered painfully in memory. The Battle of Chickamauga, fought in September, was one of the worst Union defeats of the war. Lincoln had run through a string of inept generals and had yet to promote Ulysses S. Grant to command the Union armies. Facing a troop shortage, Lincoln enacted a military draft, which sparked riots in Boston and New York.
Earlier that year, President Lincoln had received a letter from Sarah J. Hale, who was the Martha Stewart of her time and had lobbied four of Lincoln’s predecessors to celebrate a national holiday of thanksgiving, to no avail. Her perseverance finally paid off.
On October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation that declared the last Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving, a national holiday.
Lincoln’s characteristically lyrical and elegant prose begins:
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of almighty God…”
What is interesting is that in the midst of a horrific war where brother was fighting brother, Lincoln reaches out to all Americans to give thanks.
“I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens…"
With all best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family,
Ray Sclafani and our ClientWise Team
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