Vincent Valeri

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In this reflective episode of The Family Wealth Edge, Vincent Valeri opens up about the origins and evolving vision of his firm, Valeri & Associates. Joined by Kristen Heaney, he explains why collaboration, humility, and truth-telling are the foundation of meaningful family advisory work. From the belief that no single consultant can meet every need, to the importance of building trusted networks of advisors, Vincent shares how his philosophy centers on serving families with transparency, empathy, and teamwork—putting people, not egos, at the heart of family enterprise consulting.

Takeaways

The name Valeri & Associates reflects a collaborative philosophy, not a solo practice.

Families benefit most when multiple advisors and coaches bring diverse expertise to the table.

Humility and honesty are essential in family advisory work—no single consultant can “be everything.”

The best advisors help families find the right fit, even if that means stepping aside.

Collaboration with existing advisors (financial, legal, operational) ensures holistic service.

Families are complex systems; effective support requires more than one mind and one heart.

Slowing down to understand the family’s dynamics builds trust and leads to better outcomes.

True service means getting out of the way when necessary to help the family move forward.

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Kristen
So, Vincent, tell me why you named your business Valeri & Associates and what your vision is for it.

Vincent
I’m laughing because the name is always evolving. Initially, Valeri & Associates was created out of necessity—to relaunch the company—but I quickly realized that the associates part was the most important.
At my core, I believe families benefit from having more than one coach or advisor working with them. A client relationship might start with me, but my goal is to expand the professional network around the family—finding the right fit for their unique needs.

There have been many times I’ve said, “I’m not the right fit for this family.” That honesty is essential. The associates part is about celebrating the amazing professionals—like you, Kristen—and our colleagues who serve families.

And then there’s the big word: collaboration.

Kristen
Right—collaborating with a family’s existing advisors. Families at this level of complexity already have legal teams, financial advisors, accountants. Your work often complements that—it’s about building a portfolio of advisors who collaborate in service of the family.

Vincent
Exactly. That’s where the name comes from. I want families to see that I bring a broad network of professionals I’ve met over the last 15 years—people I trust—to serve them in a collaborative, coordinated way.

Working alone can be isolating. And families are already complex—layer in money, emotion, and history, and it becomes even more challenging. It takes more than one mind, more than one heart, and more than one set of ears to truly listen and serve a family enterprise well.

Kristen
I have a lot of respect for that. Families often struggle to know which consultants are qualified or the right fit. It’s reassuring for them to know you’re not trying to be everything for everyone—that you’ll bring in others who best serve their needs. That takes humility.

Vincent
Exactly. There’s already so much going on in people’s lives—it’s unrealistic to think one person can meet every need. Humility is key. In my experience, it doesn’t work when a consultant tries to do it all.

If a family presents a challenge I haven’t seen before, I won’t pretend otherwise. That’s not truthful. So my first step is to slow down, understand who’s in the system, and identify who else—what associates—might serve the family best.

This work is a calling for me. It’s about helping families build the right team. If I earn a place on that team, great. If not, I’ll gladly connect them with people who can move the conversation forward.

That’s the genesis of Valeri & Associates.

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