Grow | Witten Financial

CHAPTER ONE
You arrive at the Skrell docks and head to the central market district. Skrell has heard of Eraminus, but there are virtually no worshipers in the entire nation. You want to make a demonstration of your abilities to convince others of the power of Eraminus. The market is extremely busy as dozens of people mill about the stalls and shops surrounding the water fountain in the center of the open area. You identify several ways to make an impact among the masses – which do you choose?
- You spot a sickly man laying down near the fountain – he appears crippled. Using your regeneration spell, you can cure what ails him and bring him to his feet.
- Though the market is flush with food, you see many malnourished, poor individuals without the means to feed themselves. You can use the power of Eraminus to summon a feast and invite all who are hungry to break bread with you.
You approach the man and, with his permission, lay your hands on his legs. Power flows through you and into the man’s body. People around you see the glow of your spell and watch as blemishes and scars that dot the man’s visage shrink and disappear. His legs begin twitching as the nerves and muscles are rejuvenated with your touch.

After several minutes, the man stands for the first time in over five years. He weeps and thanks you. You turn to the crowd and say, “Through the god Eraminus, bringer of life and light, I have healed this man and allowed him to walk. To learn more about my god and his teachings, meet me on the docks tomorrow.”

A hushed silence falls upon the crowd as their eyes – filled with wonder – follow you as you leave the market.
“Citizens of Skrell,” you say, “if you desire food and drink, dine with me.”

You summon the power of Eraminus and summon a feast fit for a king. A long table appears before you with multiple meats, cheese, and fruit. Cautiously, the citizens approach and look at you quizzically.

“I am a disciple of the god Eraminus, bringer of life and light,” you say. “It is because of him I am able to bring this feast to you. Dine with me today, and if you wish to know more about my god, meet me at the docks tomorrow.”

You sit and dine with the haggard faces of Skrell’s homeless and poor, who appear eternally grateful for the kindness you have shown.
CHAPTER TWO
The next day you travel to the docks. As you had hoped, word traveled of your demonstration in the market – hundreds of people have gathered in anticipation of your arrival. Now that people know of Eraminus’ power, you need to explain what you and your god stand for – why people choose to follow your teachings. What do you say to convey Eraminus’ message to the congregation?
- You speak of all the good deeds you have done in Eraminus’ name.
- You speak to the positivity of Eraminus – what it truly means to be a follower of light and life.
You say the following:

“I am a follower and cleric of Eraminus, the dwarven god of life and light. From his teachings, I have been granted many opportunities to follow in his footsteps and spread his word to different cultures and places. Because of him, I have defended the weak from persecution, protected those who could not protect themselves, and healed the sick so they may have another chance at life.

Eraminus teaches us to be kind to one another, value life, and strive to be the best people we can be. He sent me to Skrell to help you understand his message, so that you may receive the benefits of his lessons. So I ask of you now, are you ready to receive the teachings of Eraminus?”

The crowd responds with a resounding cheer – your impassioned words have inspired them to make a change for good.
You say the following:

“When I first learned from Eraminus, I didn’t know what it meant to be a follower of light and life. I honestly didn’t know anything, though that’s not what I thought at the time. Eraminus taught me to be a better person, not just in his words but in his actions as well. His goals are to ensure that everyone treats each other equally, remains healthy, and is kept safe from harm.

He taught me how to uphold and pursue those goals everywhere I went. He taught me kindness and compassion, and how to spread that message across the realm. And I have traveled to Skrell to teach that to you. Will you follow me in pursuit of Eraminus’ goals?”

The crowd responds with a resounding cheer – your impassioned words have inspired them to heed your call and follow the teachings of Eraminus.
CHAPTER THREE
Months have passed since you first arrived in Skrell. From your acts at the market and docks, you’ve built a sizable congregation in the nation, spread Eraminus teachings, and have nearly finished construction of a new temple.

Several citizens have even decided to pledge their lives to Eraminus and are studying to become clerics, just as you did many years ago. Seeing your work a success, you prepare to depart confident that your new clerics will continue the work you’ve started.

But the day before you leave, disaster strikes. You are working with the new clerics when a contingent of soldiers barges into the temple. You see from the insignia on their shields they are part of the old dictator’s guard – several legions managed to escape persecution and regularly cause havoc within the town with guerilla style tactics.

They raise their weapons toward you – it looks as though they aren’t happy with Eraminus’ new presence in the city. How do you diffuse the situation to protect the young class of clerics and preserve your newly grown community?
- The protection of the clerics is the highest priority – you cast a protective barrier around each one.
- You hope to subdue the soldiers before they can react and cast a group paralysis spell.
The soldiers charge, but not before you are able to protect your charges with a group barrier. Seeing they are shielded from physical damage, the new clerics lash out with their abilities and are able to quickly neutralize the threat.

You are glad to see that your training has been successful and that the group was able to hold their own against the sudden attack. You summon the city guards and they lock up your captors. With the crisis averted, you wish your new congregation well and depart for home, knowing that you have created a loving community that will continue their mission to help others with the power of Eraminus.
Divine energy channels through you and strikes each soldier. They seize up and appear as statues before you and the other clerics.

You ask through gritted teeth for one of the young clerics to summon the city guard. The concentration to hold your spell for this many people is greatly taxing.

Luckily, the guards arrive quickly. You release the spell and assist in bringing everyone in to custody. With the crisis averted, you finish the lesson and depart the next day for home. You hope that your community will continue to thrive in your absence, and take comfort knowing that the people of Skrell are better off by having Eraminus in their lives.

Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

When we talk about the Grow philosophy of our practice, it can take on different meanings.

Most of the times, clients think we mean what every other financial advisor typically means – the growth of your financial assets.

In our holistic planning approach, we take a different view. Growth of your financial assets is part of it, but personal growth also plays a crucial role. You can’t stop living to put away money for a tomorrow that may never happen.

We encourage all our clients to be involved in their communities, and to develop personal growth in helping others. We know from experience that this kind of growth will lead to a better quality of life overall, which in turn can help you achieve your financial goals more quickly.
Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

When we talk about the Grow philosophy of our practice, it can take on different meanings.

Most of the times, clients think we mean what every other financial advisor typically means – the growth of your financial assets.

In our holistic planning approach, we take a different view. Growth of your financial assets is part of it, but personal growth also plays a crucial role. You can’t stop living to put away money for a tomorrow that may never happen.

We encourage all our clients to be involved in their communities, and to develop personal growth in helping others. We know from experience that this kind of growth will lead to a better quality of life overall, which in turn can help you achieve your financial goals more quickly.
Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

From our adventure, it becomes evident that our Cleric is fully invested in the beliefs of his godly patron.

He likely has had success in sharing his testimony this way before to grow the membership of his belief, which is why this approach and confidence in sharing comes natural to him.

In investing, if we are lucky enough to find a professional coach, it becomes easy to take that advice verbatim and pass it along to friends and family, as it’s always worked before.

But, unlike spirituality, the world of investing is one where past results can not necessarily predict future performance. It’s best to be cautious when you are given advice from a money professional who is too confident in their abilities to help your money grow. That’s why we focus on a common sense approach to investing and seek to provide you with educational opportunities during every part of the process, so you can make an informed decision about your finances.
Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

Humility is the quickest path to personal growth, and the best way to form a connection with others.

In our practice, we don’t pretend to know everything. And, we’re not afraid to give an answer of “I don’t know” when we encounter a new question or situation.

If you find yourself stuck with an advisor who is afraid to admit their past mistakes, talk to us. We’re not perfect, but our honest and transparent planning process is set up so you can be more confident in your investment decisions.
Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Spreading your resources across a given situation – diversification, in financial talk – is often an effective strategy to hedge against risk.

In our scenario, the Cleric decided to spread his power among his disciples, knowing that success would be more likely than if he tried to handle the situation completely by himself.

Fortunately, he prepared for the worst and got the best result, which is what we strive for in suggesting any investment strategy. A proper asset allocation and diversification plan can help hedge against market volatility and is designed to grow your assets in a predictable manner.
Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

This scenario reminds me of the client who is afraid to sell a stock or mutual fund and lock in their gains, because “it might go up more”.

One piece of knowledge we instill in our clients is that no one knows what direction markets or individual securities might move over any period.

Had our Cleric had to hold out longer, he could have lost everything he worked hard to accomplish using this tactic. This also happens in securities, when greed clouds the judgement of investors.

We’re here to help snap you out of the allure of greed in the growth of your money and design a path for success. Give us a call and let’s take a look at how we can help you accomplish your goals for the future.
Growing your wealth doesn't happen overnight. We create long-term strategies for our clients that encompass all of their investment management and financial planning goals. Contact us today to begin your wealth journey.

Contact Aaron Today
Name
Email
Message

Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Contact Aaron Today