“We have over fifty clients joining us today,” said Crystal DeHaven, Oak Partners’ Director of Client Experience. “This is our 8th Annual Garden Walk. Basically, it’s just about inviting our clients to come and hang out with us and do something they enjoy. We invite them to bring guests so it’s kind of an informal introduction as well.”
Oak Partners uses the occasion outside of the office to socialize with their clients and friends in the beautiful setting of Taltree Arboretum.
“We get to take a tour of Taltree which is such a wonderful place,” DeHaven said. “This is our 2nd year here and I was surprised at how many of our clients didn’t know Taltree existed. We split up into two groups and we get to see the Railway Gardens, the Welcome Gardens, the wetlands, and the woodlands they have here.”
Taltree Arboretum boasts four miles of hiking trails that feature glimpses of migrating birds, rare plants and a variety of animal species. Taltree is a remarkable, award-winning asset to Northwest Indiana, which is a perfect event location for Oak Partners, as they take pride in being from the Region.
“We’ve found, over the last 23 years that we’ve been around, that you can only do so much client education,” said Steve Kavois, a partner with Oak Partners. “A lot of this business is relationship building and clients don’t always want to feel like they have to learn something new about investments at every event.” It also gives them the opportunity to introduce their friends to us in a no-pressure, non-investment setting. You aren’t going to be sold anything and we’re not going to be analyzing your portfolio today.”
“We’ve also found that some clients want to come to certain types of events,’ commented Kavois. “Some want to hear an economist and for others that kind of thing doesn’t interest them. This gives us the chance to connect with those clients who wouldn’t necessarily be engaged with a more technical event. On June 24th we are hosting a movie screening for our clients, their children, or grand-children. Oak Partners continues to evolve their client experience program offering an array of different events. There is a little something for everyone.”
Oak Partners client, Jim Florek, is a client who you’d be able to find at Oak Partners’ social gatherings as well as the more educational events that the financial firm hosts.
“They have had economists speak but these get-togethers are just really social. It’s great to meet other people and other clients, and through Oak Partners events I’ve made some new friends.”
