In the traditional world of high finance, success is almost always measured in cold, hard numbers: basis points, assets under management, and quarterly returns. But if you sit down for a conversation with Brian Lloyd, the Founder and CEO of Painted Porch, you’ll hear a very different set of metrics.
“Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”-H. Thurman
Learn more about Brian’s vision of Painted Porch in his video!
The outset of Brian’s journey wasn’t about hugs. He built his career in New York finance, including investment banking, private equity, and hedge fund management. While he loved the intellectual challenges and environment of Wall Street, he found the focus of the work, compounding money for the sake of more money, lacking deep intrinsic reward.
After leaving Wall Street and creating a new life in Santa Barbara, Brian joined a small, boutique financial planning firm. Almost immediately Brian saw a void: an industry obsessed with sales and assets but far too often silent about the people behind the money. Firms managed portfolios, sometimes very well, but lacked warmth, joy, and human connection that make wealth meaningful. And, very few firms were committed to deep planning, conversations and exploration required to help clients make deep, meaningful changes.
Brian decided it was time to build something different. He wanted to create a firm that was both technically excellent and a place that emanated genuine human connection.
His first step was to bring on a partner who could help him build the culture and team to make the vision a reality. Dana Weymouth was the first partner to join Painted Porch at our founding. Brian and Dana established Painted Porch on a simple but radical principle: Help First. To us, true wealth is not just about what you possess; it’s about discovering and maximizing the parts of life that bring unencumbered joy. Brian is a staunch believer in unleashing human potential—both his own and that of everyone in our community.
“I think the highest goal in life is enduring happiness and fulfillment,” Brian says. He recognized that the modern wealth management industry often makes unrealistic promises or takes unnecessary risks while ignoring the vital work of self-discovery. At Painted Porch, the conversation isn’t just about how to grow your resources, but how to harness those resources to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Because Painted Porch isn’t a typical firm, we don’t use typical metrics to measure our business. We are far more focused on our impact on our clients, community and our Porch team than we are on traditional measures of performance. Two specific indicators we focus on that illustrate this difference include:
- Breakthroughs: These are the moments when a client achieves total clarity or relieves a long-standing stress. It’s that instant when a client realizes that a lifelong dream—whether it’s retiring early, starting a new venture, or finally finding peace of mind—is actually possible through the planning they’ve done together.
- Hugs: Yes, we track hugs we receive from our clients and Help First clients. For Brian, a hug is the ultimate “high bar” of praise. It represents a relationship that feels safe, trusting and authentic. A signal that the service we provide is too impactful for a simple handshake to suffice. It’s the physical manifestation of gratitude and connection, and it is at the very core of the purpose behind the entire Porch team.
Perhaps what makes Brian, and Painted Porch, most unique is the commitment to workplace joy. Brian believes that for a team to help clients find fulfillment, the team must feel fulfilled themselves. He has cultivated a culture where being a “joyful person” isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a core value of the people we attract as team members.
Brian’s work at Painted Porch shows that focusing on human potential, rather than just numbers, can lead to more than profits—it can truly change lives. Together with the growing Painted Porch team of amazing humans, he’s guiding a new generation of clients and community to see that wealth is best used in service of a rich and meaningful life
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