[Front of house. Marvin J. Schmidt exits out front door, closes it behind him and walks down steps out of the view of the camera.]
[Instrumental music begins playing. Marvin J. Schmidt is walking alongside a horse-drawn cart. “The Schmidt Investment Group” registered logo is in the bottom left corner.]
[Marvin is sitting on a desk in an office. “Marvin J. Schmidt, Principal, Senior Wealth Strategist”, “The Schmidt Investment Group” registered logo appears onscreen.]
I'm often asked what my story is that has led The Schmidt Investment Group to what it is today.
From a very young age, I was always fascinated with and could never learn enough about how the world of finance incorporated every aspect of life.
It appeared to me that nearly everything, at least in the short term, could affect the markets.
[Images that represent natural disasters, war, terrorism, politics, legal affairs, commodities, and pandemic outbreaks are shown.]
Natural disasters, war, terrorism, politics, legal affairs, commodities, pandemic outbreaks, human behavior, government policies, all seemed to connect back to making, preserving or losing money.
[Marvin in office, then reading Wealth Without Risk by Charles J. Givens.]
I remember the first book that I passionately studied, out of sheer interest, was written by the late Charles J. Givens, Wealth Without Risk.
[A picture of Marvin and his teammates from his high school basketball team, Marvin reading a series of books, a book by Warren Buffet, a photo of Marvin with Sir John Templeton and images of Benjamin Graham and Peter Lynch are shown.]
In junior high and high school, my basketball and volleyball teammates, they often teased me on our tournament road trips.
While they were reading and discussing things that you'd expect from typical teenage boys, I'd be studying the business and stock pages of the newspaper or a varying assortment of economic and investment research reports, or the fundamental principles to successful investing as documented by many of the world's best investment professionals and investors.
Names like Warren Buffett, Sir John Templeton, Benjamin Graham and Peter Lynch, they were the prominent contributors to molding my thinking and knowledge base.
[Marvin back in office.]
To be a successful wealth professional, meant I would forever be able to learn about all of these things, plus gain a continuous understanding of every industry under the sun and better yet, I could be an entrepreneur and build a business.
[Marvin at desk looking at documents.]
My first direct foray into the investment markets was when I was 17 years old, I engaged a stock broker.
[Marvin back in office.]
However, because I was underage, I needed my eldest brother to be the name on the account for me until I was 18.
[Marvin looking at Westinghouse purchase confirmation, “Westinghouse” logo.]
I still remember my first investment well, it was Westinghouse, that US based electricity conglomerate that thankfully provided me a very positive investment experience for me to build my foundation on.
[Marvin back in office.]
However, for me, what has contributed the most to my approach of building out the Schmidt Investment Group over the years, including how we service and advise our clients, as well as a culture of the Schmidt investment Group, comes from my family history and the lessons that I have learned from that.
[Diagram showing “trust”, “knowledge” and “hard work”.]
I would encapsulate this through three key principles; trust, knowledge and hard work.
[Photos of Marvin’s ancestors are shown, then black and white wartime footage.]
You see, my mother at a young age while living in Europe, fled from the Russian occupied West Prussia in the middle of the night.
Through the darkness of the forest in Europe, my mother along with her younger toddler age siblings, and her mother were caught by the Russian soldiers and were placed on a firing line to be killed.
On that dark and unimaginable night and only through the grace of God, was she released and escaped to Germany with nothing on her or her family's back except the clothes that they were wearing.
[The shot changes from black and white wartime footage to Dorothea Schmidt sitting, addressing the camera. “Dorothea Schmidt”.]
The Russians then overcame us and lined us up and they were ready to shoot us.
My mom, she was standing behind us and we were in front of her, and mom said, start singing a Sunday school song.
So we started singing that God loves us and somehow God used that message to scare the soldiers so badly that they ran away.
[Photos of Marvin’s ancestors then Franz Schmidt sitting, addressing the camera. “Franz Schmidt”. Black and white war time footage continues.]
My father, he also fled to Germany from Hungary during the war with his widowed mother and his 11 siblings.
He and his family started their lives in utter poverty and despair.
We had to flee from Hungary two days before the Russian army moved in.
My dad, he knew an officer, a German officer, and he said to him if something happens, if the Russians are coming, promise me that you will take my family out of Hungary.
And so he did come and said, you have to leave, in two days Russians are here. And I remember my mother crying very, very much. She didn't want to go.
So it was quite tragic, that experience.
[Marvin walks down a stairs, sits on a step, looking at old family photographs. Photos of Franz and Dorothea Schmidt when they were younger.]
Although they were difficult beginnings for my family, one generation back from me, over the years one third of my uncles and aunts ended up becoming successful entrepreneurs and business owners, one third were serving in the ministry, as my father did, and one third were teachers and educators like my mother.
[Marvin back in office. Diagram showing “Entrepreneurship”, “Serving” and “Educating clients”.]
For me, in hindsight, building the Schmidt investment group represents all three pillars of my family history; entrepreneurship, serving and educating clients.
[Marvin looking out window.]
It was my desire and belief that I could build a business serving clients at a level that was unknown in the wealth management industry.
In short, it became my mission to simplify wealth for clients.
[Marvin walking into The Schmidt Investment Group’s office building, opening the door to The Schmidt Investment Group, interacting with The Schmidt Investment Group team, Marvin in his office.]
When I reflect back on our first principle at The Schmidt Investment Group, trust, it comes from a history of understanding, appreciation and respect for the blood, sweat, tears and enormous sacrifice and discipline that goes into building the wealth that our clients have.
[Marvin leading two clients into his office, they shake hands with a member of The Schmidt Investment Group team.]
It is for this reason that we at The Schmidt Investment Group treat clients’ wealth as sacred.
[Marvin to clients.]
Well, thank you so much for taking the time today to come downtown.
What do you really want your wealth to do for you and your family?
[Male client.]
We realize that the best years of our lives are actually right now.
We're now at a point where we recognize that we can take the time, we can begin to enjoy the fruits of our labours but also set up the types of things we're going to leave some legacy.
It's important to us.
[Marvin to clients.]
The reason we set up this Schmidt Investment Group, our mission, is to simplify the wealth of our clients so that you can do the things that are important to you.
And that's really where we want to serve, is to be able to allow people to enjoy the freedom to do the things that they want to do.
[Male client.]
I am excited about the prospect of simplifying this.
[Voiceover by Marvin as client meeting continues.]
Each and every day we foster a culture where it is understood that we are emboldened to work to earn the trust of our clients.
No greater compliment can be given to us than the trust clients grant to us daily.
[Marvin in his office then transitions to footage from The Schmidt Investment Group of different team members, clients, professional designations, and the Client Care Award.]
The second principle of the Schmidt Investment Group that is founded in my family history is that of knowledge.
At our office, nearly every professional at all times is working towards another degree or professional designation, whether they've been in the industry for 5 years or 20 plus years.
Today, the Schmidt Investment Group is recognized as having more degrees, professional designations, and combined years of industry experience than nearly any other investment advisor practice in the Canadian industry.
We must ensure that only and at all times we bring forward the best, most current investment and wealth management solutions to the table for our clients.
Being the most technically proficient investment group is not an option or luxury, it is my requirement.
[Marvin in his office.]
The third and final principle of The Schmidt Investment Group that is deeply bred into our culture is that of hard work.
Education and knowledge alone will only result in developing smart people, but when passionate, dedicated, and hard work is added to the mix, only then do we realize progress.
[Marvin continues speaking over photos and mementos of Marvin’s time at university.]
During most of my university years, I decided I would sleep three times a week for five hours or a cumulative of 15 hours a week while pursuing my business degree, focusing on international business and international finance.
At the same time, I was working almost full time in the investment industry, while also leading a business school, international association on a nearly full-time basis.
[Marvin continues speaking imagery of Germany, “Saab” and “Opel” logos.]
In 1993, I worked in Germany on a student international management exchange for two large auto companies, Saab and Opel.
I then moved to Toronto and worked at the headquarters of the largest independent investment firm in Canada at the time, Midland Walwyn.
During that time, I worked throughout the nights and weekends, developing the business model for what is today, The Schmidt Investment Group.
[Marvin in The Schmidt Investment Group office in a team meeting.]
What type of feedback are we getting given the current market and economic conditions?
[A team member in response to Marvin.]
Certainly people ask the question because they are concerned I guess is the term I’d use.
[Voiceover by Marvin as footage of team meeting continues.]
Over the years, The Schmidt Investment Group has evolved and continues to evolve as we strive to improve in every aspect of what and how we deliver our value and service to our clients.
[Marvin in his office.]
The three pillars that existed and were determined to be the foundation of The Schmidt Investment Group in our beginnings, very much still exist today; trust, knowledge and hard work.
[Marvin in The Schmidt Investment Group office in a team meeting.]
I just want to get an update on who we've been able to help simplify their wealth.
[A team member in response to Marvin.]
I talked to Kim this afternoon, she called in from Vancouver and just walked through the process to help understand and she was very appreciative that she…
[Voiceover by Marvin as footage of team meeting continues, Marvin in his office.]
Looking forward, we are deeply compelled to give back.
[Spinning globe appears behind “For Profit”, “For Impact”, “For Purpose” and “The Schmidt Investment Group” registered logo.]
We believe that with a full community of The Schmidt Investment Group, together we can translate our combined successes to help lead to change globally.
[Front of house. Marvin exits out front door, closing it behind him and walks down steps out of the view of the camera, Marvin walking with his family alongside a horse-drawn cart.]
At The Schmidt Investment Group, it would not be complete without giving thanks and recognition to all past employees, my former business partner that I worked with in the 1990s and everyone else that has crossed my path over the years.
[Marvin in office.]
To all of our friends and clients, we thank you for allowing your story to be a part of ours.
[Marvin with his family, helping them get on the horse-drawn cart as he walks alongside it.]
I do not believe in a self-made man or woman.
Each and every one of us is made up of all the experiences, good or bad, and all the people that have crossed our path throughout one's life and I am no exception.
So for everyone that has touched my life or the Schmidt Investment Group, I will forever be grateful to you.
I'm excited to see what the next chapter of the Schmidt Investment Group will be. And what we together can accomplish for you, your family and the world at large.
[Marvin continues to watch his family as they drive off in the horse-drawn cart.]
[“The Schmidt Investment Group” registered logo www.TheSchmidtInvestmentGroup.com. Music fades out.]
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