Another American Success Story

Wealth managers can prosper in up markets, down markets, even mad markets, as long as they have well-heeled clients. Success requires only a steady stream of HNWIs and even UHNWIs.

Where does a wealth manager find these possessors of new money? The answer is constantly fascinating, as illustrated by this individual's story from Sunday's New York Times.

The kid and his family came to this country from Pakistan when he was 11. Dad worked as a machinist, moonlighted at McDonalds. The kid delivered papers, mowed lawns – and happened to get a job watering plants for a florist. One thing led to another, and ere long the kid was running three flower shops. In 1986 he became an American citizen. In 1999 he and his brother conceived the idea of selling arrangements of … fruit!

Today Tariq Farid is CEO of Edible Arrangements, doing business on an international scale, and has founded several related companies.

The first moral of Farid's story is– keep your eyes open. Wealth is generated in this country in more ways, by more people, than we can imagine or foresee.

You can guess the second moral: One American Muslim has betrayed his uniform and his country. Thousands and thousands of American Muslims such as Tariq Farid have done this country proud. All of us, especially those in uniform, should work hard to remember that.

You can read more about Tariq Farid at Wikipedia.