Meet David Redding, who is in Argent’s Austin, TX office and has been with us for 2 1/2 years.
Q. What led you to Argent?
A. I was blessed to find Argent in 2018 after I got caught in a corporate downsizing at my former employer. Argent was exactly what I was looking for and in today’s fast paced, tech laden business world, as the company remains focused on and listens to the client. I was so impressed at the way the company has grown on the principles that were instilled from its humble beginnings and has kept that culture even as the company has multiplied itself many times over.
Q. Why do you enjoy working at Argent?
A. Argent values its team members and realizes that success would not be possible without the people that serve our clients. I enjoy working in an environment and culture where I am valued.
Q. What does the company mean to you?
A. Argent’s key value is “Humble Confidence” and I’ve seen that principle lived out in the staff and leadership in so many ways. Our team is confident in the service and advice we provide, yet humble in the manner we provide it, which puts us in a position to not only listen to but hear our clients.
Q. Recount a favorite memory or project from your time at Argent.
A. I’ve only been at Argent for about 3 years, but in that time I’ve had the privilege of working on several projects. While our focus has been primarily on getting a new office off the ground and established in Austin, I have enjoyed working with other leaders in the company on our Financial Planning initiative and also on our Client Relationship Management team. Both have allowed me to meet people from around the company and hopefully add value from my experience with previous organizations.
Q. What has been your proudest moment at Argent?
A. My proudest moment or time at Argent was to see how fast and nimbly this company moved to accomplish a goal and stay focused on the needs of our clients during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Argent moved swiftly to make sure our staff and clients were as safe as possible. They provided us with the tools and resources we needed to respond in an appropriate and responsible way. We quickly moved to a remote work environment and our IT teams worked miracles to be sure all the technology was in place and available to allow us to work effectively and efficiently from our remote locations. We used VPN’s, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and our amazing trust accounting platform from remote locations and didn’t miss a beat. However, what was most impressive was how our leadership realized that a centrally communicated response would not be as effective as allowing each region to be the primary response team for their local clients and resources. Argent empowered local leadership to craft a customized communication and response that would work in their region.
Q. What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Argent?
A. My main wish and hope is that as we continue to grow and mature that we remember how we got there and never lose our sense of Humble Confidence that will allow us to focus everything we do on our clients and meet their goals and objectives.
Q. What’s the biggest trend you see in your field right now?
A. I’ve watched the industry go through a lot of changes in 30 years. The biggest trend I’ve seen is the move from service to selling. I believe this change has been detrimental to our industry. Trust Administration and fiduciary work is based on trust and doing what is right for the client, not generating more revenue for the organization. Argent has demonstrated to me on many occasions that our management and leadership understands how important the fiduciary relationship is and Argent continues to deliver administrative and fiduciary services with the highest level of integrity. I believe the industry will move back to the advice and service driven model that our clients need; and the firms, like Argent, that are positioned to deliver service and advice in an unbiased manner will succeed well into the future.
Q. What is a random fact about you?
A. I kept all baby teeth, not in my mouth, but in a box! That is until I got married and my wife got rid of them.
Q. What is your favorite quote?
A. “Things work out for the best for those who make the best of how things work out.” John Wooden
Q. If you could have any other job for one day, what would it be?
A. Ambassador to Switzerland or an Astronaut on the day of liftoff!
Q. If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A. That is a tough one to narrow down to one, but I think I’d have to say Abraham Lincoln, would love to talk with him about the decisions he made during the Civil War and why.
Q. What’s your favorite thing to do in Austin?
A. I love to play golf and Austin has many wonderful courses that I enjoy.
Q. What motivates you?
A. I want to be successful in what we are doing here in Austin for Argent and to serve my staff and clients well, but more importantly, I want to serve God in a way that brings glory and honor to his son Jesus Christ.
