Leise Durant, Founder & President
Hello everyone! I’m so glad you’ve found us at Lion’s Eye Wealth. We are a special firm, unique in a number of important ways. Before outlining the ways, people often ask me what I think my life purpose is. I’ve had some unique life experiences such as a total loss house fire in Pacific Heights and raising three kids solo – now off into the world each in their own way. There’s more to explain but believe me that challenge has been a constant refrain. When I think about life purpose, I think about the challenges – who it has led me to become, and the strength it has taken to endure what I have. Thus, linking the two, what is my purpose? I believe that it is to help people achieve their dreams and to be able to have the courage to speak the truth in changing times. A partner I work with on real assets recently told me that investors know that times are changing, they feel it in their bones. This is true. In finance, I understand that this could bring fears and serious questions about where we are headed as a country and globally. What will the next election bring? What happens if we go to a digital dollar? What will come of the crypto space and NFTs? Can we rely on stocks and bonds to perform the way we’ve historically experienced? What are alternative investments, and how can investors allocate assets per their risk, liquidity, and overall investment strategy?
My background in finance comes from working with startups, I even worked for Martha Stewart in NYC in startup phase. This means that I am a person that is a free thinker, that asks great questions, and isn’t fast to absorb any company line or political narrative. I named the firm Lion’s Eye Wealth because I feel kinship with the lioness, she is the huntress. The huntress never takes it on her laurels, anything, as truth. She is aware at all times, sensing, feeling, assessing – what is the right approach? It is a jungle out there in the world and particularly within finance. I seek to demystify finance and to invest ahead of the curve and the programmed herd for the benefit of my clients that I most often call my friends. Recently, I had a client shoot me an email from Kathmandu telling me of his adventures and looking forward to a meeting when he returned. Gosh, I felt like I was right there with him! My clients take me on their adventures in life one way or another and it just feels thrilling to be a part of it. To say that I am invested in the success and achievement of my clients’ visions is an understatement. When you succeed as my client, I succeed. It is a heavy responsibility that I take very seriously.
At Lion’s Eye Wealth, we only customize investment portfolios tracked to our clients’ goals. We custody assets (hold) at Charles Schwab & CO, Inc. primarily. For those with unique direct real asset investment and/or alternative investments needs, we partner with several firms such as Crystal Capital Investments in Florida, ZEGA in Florida, and McAlvany in Durango, CO, along with a few others. I’d be happy to explain how that works. In essence, we have the power of one of the largest big wirehouses in finance behind us, yet we walk our own talk – the thought pieces, research, investment strategy, and insights come from us, not from big firm dictates increasingly overshadowed by government.
In September 2021, Dr. David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist for JPMorgan Chase said that inflation was transient. I was about to upchuck. Never again could I listen to such nonsense. Of course, at the time and even prior I felt inflation was sticky and becoming entrenched as we’ve seen. The question to investors is this, did the big brand names that let you coast downwards 25% or more in 2022 telling you this narrative do you a favor, or would you have preferred to gain 5-15% through active investing as Lion’s Eye Wealth did for its clients? Up now in two years over 27% amidst first a down market and then a choppy market in 2023. What does the big firm get you? Assets are protected through us the same way they are at a big firm. It is the thoughts, strategy, and investments that differ as well as the customization and personal attention. While past results can’t be guaranteed for the future, we strive to do better, and we don’t like to ride down drafts.
I’d love to have a call or meeting to explain more. We are beholden only to our clients. Rest assured your best interests will be served; we are not a firm pushing products to get “GRID payouts” as is the case at big firms, I come from Morgan Stanley and while learned some good things, this isn’t a positive. I question how it is even possible with Regulation BI, yet the big firms persist – I can explain.
Rest assured that we work only for you, not for big firm incentives, but for you reaching your unique personal goals.
Our oath is to serve you.
All the very best,
Leise Durant
President & Founder
While not investing, I enjoy skiing, trail running, hiking, and traveling. I serve on the Board at Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride, CO. I am passionate about writing clever poetry, and love seeing my kids take off out in the world now!