By definition, being a headhunter puts me in an adversarial relationship with some firms (working against them), while at the same time puts me in an alliance with others (placing advisors with them). But even in the cutthroat culture of adviser recruitment, there are times when we realize there are causes that can unite us all for a greater good. Yes, I know that sounds hokey, even trite.
But this past weekend, I rode my bike 190 miles from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) to raise money for cancer treatment and research. The PMC is the country's largest athletic fundraiser and this is my fifth year participating. I personally raised over $23,000 while my team raised over $200,000. 100% of the donations go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. I ride to honor a dear friend who passed away at the age of 44 in 2007 and so that one day this scourge can be slowed if not stopped.
I didn't survive and thrive 30 years as a headhunter by being shy, and I fervently believe in the cause. What might surprise everyone is that individuals from 19 different Wall Street organizations supported me on this ride. Credit Suisse, Ameriprise, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Wells Fargo, Hightower, Fieldpoint, Steward Partners, Barclays, Janney, Commonwealth, Raymond James, JP Morgan, Oppenheimer, Northwestern Mutual, Northern Trust, Guardian, AIG. And I'm not done, since fundraising is not closed for this year until October.
(Click here to donate to Danny's ride)
When it was pouring rain on Saturday, and I was soaked from head to toe and absolutely miserable, I knew that my suffering was finite and defined. Cancer sufferers and their loved ones are not so lucky.
So thank you, Wall Street, for uniting behind a short, bald but determined headhunter who fervently hopes that one day he will be riding his bike in the celebration of a cure instead of supporting the search to find one.
Danny Sarch is a career consultant and president of Leitner Sarch Consultants.
