Why I Still Wear a Tie

It’s interesting that as life goes on, I watch myself get old. Today at 60, many things have changed. Cars are faster and more efficient, people are busier, communication is immediate, and we are much more casual in how we dress at work. I see the benefits of new technology and embrace them with ease, but I will not abandon my ties.

Wearing a tie surely does not help me to fit in. I live in a small town and might be the only one who still wears a tie. None of my peers wear one. I suppose that if I stopped wearing ties I would fit in better, standout less, and seem more normal to those who meet me.

If a tie is worn by others, it’s either for a funeral or a special event, like a wedding. At these events we want to show respect, and it feels good to get dressed up once in a while. Will this still be the case 10 or 20 years from now? I am doubtful.

So, why do I continue to wear a tie? I wear a tie because I’m humbled. People come to me for help with their financial lives. They look to me for help so they can change their lives for the better. For over 30 years, I’ve never taken this privilege for granted. Every time I walk into a meeting with a client, I feel it is a blessing from God that I have been given the opportunity to enter their life, and be an advocate for better decisions, less mistakes and less worry.

Every time I meet with someone or call them on the phone, I take seriously the end result of that conversation. I don’t want to be casual about my clients’ lives or goals. I don’t want to be laid-back about whether we reach success or not. My clients have let me into a special spot in their lives that few are allowed. I wear a tie in honor of this privilege.

The next time we meet, there will be laughter and I hope we have fun, but I never want my clients or colleagues to doubt that I’m there to work at being the best I can be for the best results. My clients rely on me, and I wear a tie in respect of my clients’ decision to work with me.

So when you see me wearing a tie, you can assume I’m serious. Serious about what I’m doing and who I’m doing it for. My tie is a symbol of the seriousness I take in my job. If you see me without a tie, you’ll know I’m not working and just having fun enjoying my life, and the world God has given me.