Words We Live By — 30 Years of KWB-isms
Kerry always says that if he can walk away from a conference with one good idea, the whole experience is worth it. And he always walks away with at least one good idea. No matter whether these KWB-isms are pure Kerry or wisdom gleaned from someone Kerry crossed paths with — these are words KWB lives by. Each KWB-ism cited here is paired with one of our core values — because our KWB-isms and our KWB core values go hand-in-hand.
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others"
— African proverb
Kerry returns to this idea again and again - in how he mentors his team, in how he thinks about client relationships, and in how he navigates the long game of building a lasting firm. KWB was never designed to be fast. It was designed to go far. That means investing in people, building real partnerships, and choosing collaboration over shortcuts - every time. Thirty years later, the proof is in the distance we've covered together.
Core value: Purposeful Leadership
"People don't care how much you know
until they know how much you care."
— Theodore Roosevelt
In financial services, it can be tempting to lead with credentials, track records, and technical expertise. Kerry has always believed that's the wrong order. Before a client can trust your advice, they need to know that you have their best interests at heart — that this is about their life, not your numbers. At KWB, we lead with care. The expertise and trust have built upon each other — one relationship at a time.
Core value: Approachable Professionalism
"Everything worthwhile is uphill."
Kerry has always been direct about the fact that building something meaningful is hard. This phrase is his way of reframing the difficulty — not as a reason to slow down, but as a sign you're headed somewhere worth going. The context Kerry often adds: many people have uphill hopes with downhill habits. At KWB, we close that gap every day.
"Chance favors the prepared."
Kerry first said this in the context of an early and pivotal opportunity - one that came KWB's way not by luck, but because years of relationship-building and expertise had laid the groundwork. The lesson has stayed with the firm ever since. Opportunities don't just appear - they reveal themselves to people who have done the work. At KWB, preparation is how we show up for our clients every single day.
"When you're ripe, you rot. When you're green, you ripen."
Thirty years in business could easily breed complacency. Kerry has never let it. This is one of the most repeated phrases in the KWB office because it captures something we genuinely believe: the moment a firm - or a person - decides they have nothing left to learn is the moment they start falling behind. At KWB, staying curious isn't just encouraged. It's expected.
"Show up on time. Do what you say you're going to do.
Finish what you start.
Say please and thank you.
And do it with a sense of urgency."
These five commitments — Kerry's signature expansion of Dan Sullivan's four traits of referability — are as close to a KWB constitution as anything we have. The first four are timeless principles of professionalism and character. The fifth is Kerry's own addition, and it's the one that separates good service from remarkable service. Urgency isn't about rushing — it's about signaling to every client that their financial life matters right now, not eventually. Together, these five habits are the reason KWB has built a firm that grows referral by referral, relationship by relationship.