Join Lowell Pratt, President of Burney Company and investment industry veteran, as he shares his incredible 40-year journey from IT support to leadership. Discover how Burney became a beta firm for Advent Software and the military culture that shaped its values. Lowell talks about the importance of performance, lessons learned from mentors Jack Burney and Ted Rosenberg, and the evolving role of AI in advisory firms. He emphasizes that client peace of mind remains the top priority amidst the industry's rapid changes.
24:00
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
From IT Guy To Investment Insider
Lowell joined Burney as the original IT guy to implement Advent Software and pay for grad school.
That IT role became his foot in the door to learn Burney's investment process and stay long-term.
insights INSIGHT
Early Outperformance Shaped Commitment
Burney's historical stock selection produced roughly twice the S&P returns in its first decade.
That sustained outperformance sparked Lowell's fascination and commitment to the investment process.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mentors With Complementary Strengths
Lowell describes mentors Jack Burney and Ted Rosenberg as complementary leaders with military backgrounds.
Their mix of analytic rigor and people skills formed Burney's enduring culture.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
What does it take to build a nearly $3 billion investment firm over four decades?
In our very first episode of Long Story Short, we sit down with Lowell Pratt, President of Burney Company, for an intimate conversation about his 40-year journey from IT support to firm leadership.
We cover:
How Burney Company became a beta firm for Advent Software in the 1980s
The military culture that shaped the firm's foundation and still drives it today
Lessons from legendary mentors Jack Burney and Ted Rosenberg
Why performance still matters in an industry that's given up on beating the market
The transition from managing a handful of $50K accounts to overseeing nearly $3 billion
How AI represents both the biggest opportunity and risk facing advisory firms
⏱️ Timestamps:
(0:00) Welcome & introducing Lowell Pratt
(1:35) How Lowell joined Burney as the original IT guy
(2:48) First impressions: A firm beating the S&P by 2-to-1
(4:48) Mentorship from Jack Burney and Ted Rosenberg
(6:06) Military culture and "truly magnificent" leadership
(10:14) The transition to owning client relationships
(13:24) Advice for younger advisors: Become an owner, keep the passion
(15:27) 50 years of change: From paper records to $3 billion
(18:55) What clients really want: Peace of mind above all
(21:17) Looking ahead: AI as the next great disruption
The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. Burney Company does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice, but offers it through third parties. Before making any financial decisions, clients should consult their legal and/or tax advisors.
Long Story Short