What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: Why I started VDB Wealth
3. Life Thought: Everyone is rooting for you
4. Good Sh*t: Cookie Recipe

Photo From My Life:

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Financial Thought:

Why I started VDB Wealth: I'm often asked why I started VDB Wealth so I decided to finally record myself blabbering about why I chose to do this. If you care, here's a X second video outlining my thought process. At the core, there are two main drivers:

1. The Market Opportunity: There's a great opportunity to deliver high quality service that people struggle to get from banks, broker-dealers, and larger RIAs.
2. Selfish Reasons: I want to work with the same people for 20+ years, I want to feel like I'm helping others, I enjoy creating businesses, and it gives me freedom.

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Life Thought:

Everyone is Rooting for You: Like most people, I probably spend too much time assuming others are judging me or looking down on me. Whether I want to talk to a girl in college, introduce myself to someone new at my first job, or walk into a party where I don't know anyone, my brain immediately starts imagining everything that could go wrong.

I'll have to ask my therapist wife, but I assume this is some form of defense mechanism. If I expect rejection, maybe it won't sting as much.

I know this is a bad thought process that doesn't serve me, and it's time for me to level up. This is happening slowly, as I'm starting to realize that 99% of people are actually rooting for me. People inherently want the interaction to go well.

The person across from you wants an enjoyable date. The new friend group hopes you're interesting to talk to. The stranger you're introducing yourself to probably appreciates someone making the first move, because they're just as uncomfortable as you are. You're only at the job interview because they want you to be the person they hire. Your big prospect only took that meeting because they want you to be the perfect wealth manager for them.

I'm not someone who has a ton of natural confidence, and in some ways, I think that's an advantage. I'm forced to prepare, think through my goals, and accept that I'm not perfect. But when I remember that everyone is rooting for me, I'm much more positive, and I find it easier to take the simple risks.

Everything I want to achieve in life is on the other side of taking risks and being uncomfortable. So the sooner I accept that life wants me to succeed, the better.

Good Sh*t:

Cookie Recipe: Diets are overrated in the summer. I was recently at a friend's house who had made these incredibly delicious cookies. I knew I had to share the recipe. If you don't like oatmeal Chocolate Chip, something's wrong with you. Could be the GOAT of cookies. It's not outlined in the recipe, but my friends had put a little finishing salt on the top. It's a bougie move, but delicious.

Disclaimer: VDB Wealth is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

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