A case study in turning the other cheek and handing over your coat at the end of a partnership.
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA
After 10 years in partnership with two others at his financial management firm, wealth advisor Martin Lombrano sensed that things were changing.
“It became apparent that this partnership was not going forward,” recalls Martin. “My partners were doing more and more business that I was not comfortable doing. For those reasons, it became apparent that I needed to leave.”
Unfortunately, the separation did not progress smoothly.
“It was going extremely poorly,” says Martin. “As a Christian, I wasn’t handling myself well at all.”
At one point, tensions escalated to the brink of violence.
“We almost exchanged physical blows," recalls Martin. “That’s how poorly I was acting.
“We almost exchanged physical blows. That’s how poorly I was acting.”
“It would have been all-out war, anxiety, and torn me apart from my wife if Paul hadn’t come into the picture. It was ugly.”
Paul Aubin is Martin’s Convene Chair—a seasoned businessman who leads peer advisory teams of Christian CEOs, helping them to grow their businesses and honor God.
“I’m so thankful that Convene came along in God’s perfect timing,” remembers Martin. “Paul attended a men’s Bible study and sat at a table that I was leading. After getting to know me for several months and hearing my story, he said, ‘I think we may be able to help you.’
“He introduced me to Convene and said, ‘I think you’d be a great fit,’ and I said, ‘I’m in.’ Honestly, I’m not sure I even knew the cost. I just said, ‘I’m in.’ The strength of his character and counsel caused me to say yes.”
Right away it was evident that Martin needed to change his behavior.
“I connected with other business owners and CEOs, Godly men and women, that came alongside me and showed me a different way,” recalls Martin. “I’d never seen faith lived out in business life before.
“I looked at their lives and said, ‘I want to be like that.’ There was no way I could be with them and act this way. They didn’t call me out; they called me up, to a higher standard.”
“I looked at their lives and said, ‘I want to be like that.’”
Martin knew that his business partners would continue to battle. However, with the support of his Convene team, he decided to try a different approach.
“It was time to surrender my ego, rights, and what I thought I deserved,” shares Martin. “Instead of coming into the office and dreading to see them, I smiled and asked, ‘How are you?’ and had a warm, hospitable demeanor. Once I believed that I had nothing to fear and that God would take care of me, everything changed.”
Martin’s new conduct astonished his partners.
“When I no longer put up resistance, they didn’t know what to do with themselves,” laughs Martin. “Months into that turnaround, one partner looked me in the face and said, ‘Who are you? What happened?’ It was amazing.”
Next it was time to divide up the clients. Again, Martin surrendered the outcome.
“In California, the client decides who they want to stay with, but not according to my former partners,” remembers Martin. “They claimed that they were in control of that.
“I gave them a list of clients that I’d like to keep, but they exercised veto power during our negotiation. But, I kept it pleasant and said, ‘Okay, great. If you want to keep them, that’s fine.’”
Because of Martin’s turnaround, he was able to leave the business gracefully and maintain relationships with his former partners.
“Today I can see them at conferences or other functions, and it’s smiles and hugs. It’s nothing but good toward them, and vice versa.
“I couldn’t have done that without my Convene team to help guide me.”
“I couldn’t have done that without my Convene team to help guide me.”
After a year on his own, Martin formed a new partnership with someone he met through a study group.
“It’s been amazing,” says Martin. “Any clients I wasn’t allowed to take, I got back, and then some.
“Our firm is going exactly how we want. We put clients first, do great planning, and give sound advice. We don’t push products. It’s been absolutely the right move.”
Martin has also seen improvement in his family life.
“I’m much happier. Less anxious, cooler, less frustrated, and lighter.”
If someone was on the fence about joining Convene, what would Martin recommend?
“Just do it. I’m a classic procrastinator and over-analyzer, and I say, ‘Just do it.’ If there’s anything that even remotely looks interesting, do it.
“Trust God for the outcome.”
Martin Lombrano is a Partner and Wealth Advisor at Wealth Management Solutions, LLC in Newport Beach, California.
Disclaimer: Some quotations have been edited for length and clarity.