“What Was It Like Growing Up with John As Your Dad?”

One of the questions I get asked a lot (especially since joining the firm) is: “So, what was it like growing up with John as your dad?” Usually asked with a raised eyebrow and a chuckle. And I get it—he’s a big personality, a finance guy through and through, and the founder of this whole thing. The kind of guy who reads market reports for fun and uses phrases like “dollar-cost averaging” in casual conversation.

The truth? It was a blast. Sure, he can break down a retirement plan with a napkin and a Sharpie, but what really defined him at home was his zest. He loves loud music. Really loud music. He approaches every new hobby with unfiltered enthusiasm (lately that includes comparing sipping tequilas, barbecue smoking, hurricane chasing, identifying plants, and tracking alligators along the golf course). He believes life is supposed to be fun, full, and a little bit loud—and he absolutely lives that way.

Growing up, my siblings and I had more interests than I can count. Between the four of us, you name it and we’ve probably tried it (with varying degrees of success). When band was my biggest focus, we listened to Benny Goodman in the car and went to early-morning rehearsals just for fun. When swimming took over, we timed laps with stopwatch intensity. Art School? You’d better believe he was one of my biggest cheerleaders. Had he ever played the clarinet or swam laps? It didn’t matter, he was all in. There’s something comforting—and honestly, kind of rare—about having a finance guy in your corner who’s not trying to steer you toward a traditional path, but instead help you get the most out of the one you actually want to take.

That mix of encouragement and practicality is his superpower. He’s not the guy who’s going to shut down your idea, he’s the guy who helps you figure out how to take that idea and actually do something with it. Do you know how good it feels to believe—truly, deeply—that passion and profitability are not mutually exclusive? I do, and it’s a beautiful thing. One of my favorite things about joining Napier has been seeing how that same philosophy is applied to clients and their wildest dreams.

So when people ask me what it was like growing up with John as my dad, the real answer is: inspiring, hilarious, sometimes a little loud—and absolutely the best blueprint I could have asked for. And this Father’s Day, I feel especially lucky to say that the guy who taught me to dream big and go all in… also happens to be my coworker.