Five Years At HMA

By HMA Team on February 16, 2023

If I had any idea how fun and rewarding it would be to start our own firm, I would have lit the fuse earlier. For years we kicked around the idea of returning to a partnership. This idea gained more and more appeal to the point that we had to put our money where our mouth was. At first, Philip was reticent, but once he understood that I wanted to return to the roots of his father Wayne’s eponymous firm and create a partnership that would serve clients without conflicts of interest, he was on board and clearing out his desk faster than we could say, ‘No, Philip, stop! Not yet!”

Philip was even more elated when David Cox signed on as our CIO (Philip hired David at Wayne Hummer in 1996). Becky Parr was not sure about all of this until Ryan Ross convinced her that becoming an independent firm under an RIA (Hightower) would be in the best interests of our clients. After that, she was all-in and assiduously writing her thank-you notes to her soon-to-be former colleagues. Chapin had just started with us and was stuck listening to his father bark and crow about how great this would be, even though I was winging it (thank God, I had Ryan as my wingman).

 In 2018, we committed to a new beginning, and as Jackie Gleason was fond of saying, “And away we go.” So, we did go, creating a new name, logo, website, and collateral; choosing legal eagles and sharp accountants; selecting, renovating and furnishing an office space; picking a back-office provider and custodian—all this accomplished (hush-hush) on the sly and under the cloak of darkness for fear of getting caught. We could not tell anybody outside of our spouses and dogs. It was tense. It was strenuous. It was funny. We loved it. And it was well worth it. Our baby was born.

As you are all aware, children grow if you feed them. HMA is no exception. To wit: Chapin fortunately suggested that we talk to his friend Jonathan Harper, who was unsettled in his current situation and searching. Hosanna! We were lucky to add him (Ryan 2.0) to our burgeoning CFPr team. Next, the gods smiled down with providence by blessing us with our old friends and former partners Lorraine Hutchinson and Kelly Manchac. They added depth to our team with their experience and female touch. Finally, finally, Becky was not alone in a sea of mansplainers. Hosanna again!

Today—our fifth anniversary—we are a team of eight partners all rowing the HMA boat in the same direction with our clients. Believe me when I tell you the collective smile of the HMA partnership is blinding. The team chemistry is intoxicating. Fun and humor abound.  

 To all of you, our clients and friends, our thanks and appreciation for your confidence, support, and trust. The fun has just begun.

Grove