BFG Values & What it Means

Written by: Ryan Bouchey, CPA, CFP®

 

The New Year is a great time to look ahead at all the possibilities in front of us. I also find value in looking back and reflecting on the year that just passed. While going through this lookback exercise, one thing I take a lot of pride in from this past year is how our firm leaned into our values and how our team came together around them, values that continue to guide our work as a financial planning firm committed to long-term client relationships and the community we serve.

This past fall, we held an offsite retreat to celebrate our firm, set the vision for the future, and reflect on what makes our team and culture special. A major theme from that retreat, and really the year as a whole, was values: what we believe in, how we show up for one another, and how we serve our clients and community. It sparked meaningful conversations about what we stand for and the kind of firm we want to continue to build.

When we set out to formalize our values, we viewed them through three lenses: do we live these values internally as a team, do we express them through our work with clients, and do these values align with the community we serve? In all three cases, the answer was a resounding “yes,” and it reinforced why this exercise mattered so much. I wanted to share what that process looked like and what these values mean to us at Bouchey Financial.

 

Curiosity

Curiosity has been a major driver of our team’s success. When working with clients, it’s curiosity that deepens connection, strengthens understanding, and pushes us to uncover the right recommendations to help reach both personal and financial goals. We ask a lot of questions, not just to gather data, but to truly get to know our clients and navigate an ever-changing financial landscape with more clarity and intention.

There’s a Pablo Picasso line that says, “Computers are useless, they only give you answers.” As a firm, we benefit immensely from the technology and analytical tools at our disposal, but it’s the human connection fueled by curiosity that ultimately makes the difference. That’s the part no software can replicate, and in our experience, it’s one of the biggest drivers of client success today.

Positivity

Positivity has been a cornerstone of our firm for decades, and our team continues to live it today. We strive for every client interaction to be a positive one, not only during the good times, but especially during moments of difficulty. If we’re able provide support or clarity through hardship, the relationship deepens in meaningful ways.At the end of the day, we want our clients to feel a positive relationship with their financial life.

Our team embraces this positive mindset not only in how we work with clients, but also in how we engage with each other as a team (as was on full display during our Vermont retreat this past fall). That commitment extends outward as well, to creating a positive impact in our broader community - whether through our time, energy, or resources.

Shared Growth

Shared growth is a core part of who we are as a firm. We believe growth is most meaningful when it’s shared. Some of our client relationships span 20 or 30 years, and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch clients build businesses, advance in their careers, strengthen their financial lives, and reach milestones they once only imagined.

But shared growth doesn’t stop with clients. As a firm, we’ve worked hard to create an environment where every colleague can grow personally and professionally. Whether through education, professional development, or embracing a growth mindset that elevates the firm as a whole, our team consistently finds ways to learn, improve, and push the organization forward. It’s that shared commitment to growth, together, that has helped define our culture and our future.

Compassion

Compassion has always been at the heart of how we serve our clients. It’s the desire to take action, to guide, and to help create the best possible outcomes in our clients financial lives. Many of our most meaningful client relationships were built through situations that required empathy, patience, and understanding, and it’s often those moments that shape our approach as an organization.

Internally, we strive to support one another as people first and colleagues second. Life happens—families grow, challenges arise, and careers take new turns. Having a team that shows up for one another, celebrates milestones, and listens to one another creates an environment where people feel safe to grow and do their best work.

Commitment

Commitment is a key piece to how we operate as a firm. We hold ourselves to the highest standards by delivering accurate, high-quality work with timeliness, clear communication, and a deep sense of responsibility to those who trust us. Clients rely on us to help guide their financial lives, and that commitment shows up in the details: the rigor of our planning, the thoroughness of our investment approach, and the consistency of our service.

Our commitment also extends to one another. Supporting our team means showing up, meeting expectations, and taking ownership for both individual and collective outcomes. When each person is committed to doing their best work, the entire firm benefits. And more importantly, our clients do as well.

It goes without saying, but our commitment carries into the community around us. Whether through volunteering, charitable support, or lending our time and expertise, we want to contribute to the wellbeing of the place we call home. To us, commitment isn’t just a work ethic; it’s a way of honoring the relationships and communities that make what we do meaningful.

 

We didn’t set out to establish our firm values as a list to hang on a poster or show on our website. They came together as the pillars for a lived-in experience for our people, our clients and the communities that have supported us through the years. As we embark on 2026 with enthusiasm for the possibilities ahead, we hope these values resonate with each of you and it is something that comes through with your experience with our firm in 2026 and beyond!