Many elements are essential to well-functioning markets and economies. Liquidity. Monetary and fiscal policy. Transparency. Rule of law. Growth. Innovation. Competition. All thriving financial systems possess these components.
However, all of these components depend on trust.
Trust in institutions and markets is the fuel that powers the global financial engine. Without that fuel, the engine suddenly stops working. We saw how quickly this can happen given the rapid downfall of several banks this spring.
The circumstances of the declines of commercial banks, such as Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank, and First Republic Bank, vary. The common thread, however, is that depositors and investors lost trust in these banks’ ability to fulfill their promises. As rising interest rates exposed weaknesses in these banks’ balance sheets, depositors began to worry that they wouldn’t be able to access those funds when they needed them. This lack of trust quickly cascaded to other clients and the banks’ investors.
While William Blair’s balance sheet and business model are vastly different from a commercial bank’s, trust is paramount to everything we do. Simply put, we exist because of the trust you have placed in us. We put your interests first and work diligently to achieve your goals. Counterparties to our trades and transactions do business with us because they trust us to deliver on our promises.
We know that trust is something we must continually earn and foster. This principle has guided everything we do for nearly 90 years and will continue to do so.
Our strong, conservatively managed balance sheet and independence have allowed us to focus steadfastly on delivering world-class service for you, even during times of heightened market volatility. We intentionally designed our business model so that we only succeed when you succeed, empowering us to deliver unquestioned advocacy and objective advice. Our culture prioritizes long-term relationships built on trust that is fostered across market cycles and generations.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in us. We never take it for granted, and we are honored to have the opportunity to continue building and nurturing that trust by delivering innovative solutions that are tailored to your unique objectives.
Sincerely,
Brent Gledhill
President and CEO