Forrest Friedow

Partner, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

Tell us about something special from your youth.

I am originally from the Midwest - I grew up in the city, but we come from a huge farm family and spent much of our childhood at the family farm. I have vivid memories of my brother and I climbing the hayloft and grabbing a rope to swing from one end to the other, sometimes dropping right in the middle. The farm was like an escape, and to me it was the coolest place in the world!

Share a story about your family.

I spent a lot of my life thinking I wouldn’t be able to be a dad, and now I can say getting to be a dad is the coolest thing ever. Not only is my son the coolest kid I have ever met, but he has totally altered my perception of what is important and what isn’t. Everything used to me about me…now everything that I do is about him.

What is the most important thing you have learned about helping other people?

Helping others is foundational to who we are as human beings. I’ll choose people over principles any day of the week.

What are you known for among your friends?

I care deeply for others – family, friends, clients – and I’m constantly looking for the good in everyone and every situation. I have a zest for life and I want to get the absolute most I can out of it!

What is your favorite part of what you do at Vestia?

I love teaching, and I get to do a lot of it at Vestia through our resident/fellow workshops. Standing in front of a room with a whiteboard, drawing out a complex financial concept in a way that is easily digestible, and seeing the “aha” moments – to me that is the most gratifying thing in the world.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

If I’m not working I’m likely one of three places – on my Peloton (music and energy of a Cody Rigsby class cannot be topped), at the beach, or getting a massage.

What book do you always tell people they should read? Why?

I always go back to the classics – it’s fascinating to me to see how much has changed around us over time but how little we as humans have changed. We still hold grudges, we still seek justice, and we ultimately are all seeking love and happiness. My all-time favorite book is the Count of Monte Cristo, with War and Peace coming in as a solid second place.

One of Vestia’s values is to model “wealth that matters.” What does this mean to you?

Despite never making more than $30,000 a year, my grandfather was one of the wealthiest men I’ve ever known. He was admired widely because he did not think much of himself. Instead, he was driven by what he could do for others and lived a life in service. I chose to follow that gold standard in regard to family, friends, clients and others I meet. For me there would be no greater regret than achieving material wealth at the expense of service to others.