7 Questions with Bob Skloff, Director of Investments
This week we sat down with Bob Skloff, the Director of our Investment Department, to discuss his summers during college, the importance of collaboration, and what makes him nostalgic. Check out the interview below.
Tell me a little bit about your background.
I grew up in a family business environment where my parents owned half a dozen dry cleaners. During my summers at school, I would come home and manage the people and finances of all our locations, something not every 20-year-old is exposed to. For that reason, the role of responsibility has never been foreign to me. I have built my practice off of that idea-- a responsibility to my clients to offer the best service in the financial industry.
When did your career in the financial services industry begin?
I started my career in the summer of 1983 after graduating from the University of Massachusetts with an Economics degree. After a year in the business, I knew this was the career I wanted to devote my life to. I’ve been here ever since.
In the early days, I would sit at the restaurant next to one of my family’s dry cleaners. I knew almost everyone that came in and I would just talk with them. Talk about their life, my life, everything. I would always find a way to weave in the work I do and how I could help them out. It worked really well. Cold calls worked as well. I lived on the phone for the first three years. It was tedious, but it definitely paid off.
Who has had the biggest influence on your success?
My coworkers. No doubt. Working with people from diverse backgrounds and participating in various study groups has allowed me to explore areas and ideas I would have never found on my own. The ability to collaborate with the people around me has had a tremendous impact on my career.
What do you find most rewarding on a daily basis?
Seeing a plan come to fruition is wonderful. It’s a tangible way to see the impact you have made on someone’s life. I also very much enjoy the relationships I have made. Relationships with clients, coworkers, you name it. There are a lot of incredible people out there.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
Be up front with people. Don’t try to cut corners, it doesn’t work. Lay it all out on the table from the very beginning.
What is your greatest achievement?
Easy. I have been married for 30 years and have two wonderful children, Justin and Brett.
What is something that makes you nostalgic?
Watching my boys grow up. It’s...how do I put this... It’s interesting. In fact, it’s fascinating. It’s powerful. It’s rewarding. It brings me back to when I was their age and the choices I made to get me to where I am today. The smallest decisions can have the biggest impact. I guess I’m excited to see how and where they end up but, most importantly, how they get there.