DBT40 Honoree: Brian Carney

Age: 39
Partner, Blue Rock RiversEdge (Wilmington)

Professional accomplishments:  I have multiple industry designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).  I was named as a Top 30 Under 30 by the Society of Financial Service Professionals.  I started at Blue Rock in 2014 with $12 million of assets under management and have increased that to more than $125 million in just five years.

Community Service: Because I was a financial-aid kid at Tatnall, I feel it is very important to give back to the school.  I am a member of the Alumni Council (and a former VP and president).  I’ve served on the board of trustees, on the development and golf committees, on the building and grounds committee.  My entire family is involved with Out of the Woods Rescue in Medford, New Jersey, and we’ve fostered and placed seven dogs in their permanent home so far in 2019. This past spring, I coached three teams at Piedmont baseball league and have coached one or two teams every season (fall, spring, summer) for the past three years.

At what point in your life did you realize you had the power to do something meaningful? Throughout my career, my successes and failures were judged only on revenue—that is it. It took about 12 years into the business to realize that the service I provide for people is much bigger than that. My client, Jim, was 62 and married to a 50-year-old woman named Sue. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and was given less than five years to live. His wife never handled the finances and admittedly “knew nothing” about money. During one of our meetings, he turned to me and said “you realize that when I am gone, you are going to have make sure she is taken care of.” At that moment, I realized that my job was so much more important than investment accounts.  I was now responsible for the financial future of someone who needed me. As we prepared for life after Jim, it became clear that I was getting her ready for her new normal. Jim passed away two years ago and I have taken my role in Sue’s life very seriously. I’ve helped her learn how to deal with her new life and she relies on me for all of her financial decisions. It really is so much more than just investment returns.

Brian with his family.

Tell us a few things that aren’t on your LinkedIn profile:  I’m one of the biggest Eagles fans on the planet and was caught on video screaming (and quite possibly cursing) after they finally won the Super Bowl in 2018. And I am deathly afraid of two very random/weird things:  jellyfish and tearing my Achilles’ tendon.

Guilty Pleasure: I absolutely love Saved by the Bell and still watch it when i can.

Go-to Karaoke Song: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

Advice 10 years ago: Spend as much time professionally with people you really like.  When you surround yourself with clients that you want to have a beer with instead of ones that create the most revenue, you will be so much happier.