It’s an exciting development! You may have heard our announcement already, but effective January 1, 2026, Caitie Leibman here will be serving as CEO of Leibman Financial Services. Mark Leibman isn’t going anywhere, so what changes and what doesn’t with a new person in the front-facing role? This is a must-watch to get the latest from 228Main.com—online or on Main!
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Friends, we’ve reached another milestone in the life of Leibman Financial Services. Since I founded the company back in 1996, I’ve been fortunate enough to see LFS through many chapters and changes already.
I wrote recently about how I spend my working hours, and my teammates are helping me get more time for my favorite work activities: talking with you and researching the opportunities and challenges that might impact your portfolios. To do more of what I want, I need to be doing less of everything else.
To that end, we are pleased to announce that Caitie Leibman will succeed me as the next CEO of Leibman Financial Services, effective January 1, 2026.
I’ve long believed that we are all better off working from our passions and values, and we’ve got a chance to reshuffle what goes on each of our plates.
We believe Caitie’s strengths are well-suited to this role. There are tasks that stayed on my plate for years only because once upon a time, mine was the only plate! Many of these tasks require the type of logistical thinking and eye for detail that Caitie has brought to all her work.
Since 2020, Caitie has served LFS full-time as the Director of Communications. She added client work and investment research to her plate after becoming licensed in 2023.
It was that year we split ownership of the business: many of you are already aware, but I co-own this business with Caitie, Greg, and Billy. We work as a four-person management team. Decisions will still be made in this collaborative way moving forward, no matter who has what title.
Instead, the hope is that I get to spend more time doing the parts of the work that are most gratifying to me, and Caitie has a chance to shine in a new way.
We’ll talk more about what this news means in the coming weeks. For now, know that I’m excited. I’m still aimed at working until age 92, and this change may be part of what gets me there.
Thank you all, for everything, always.
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Each of us may be the star of our own show, but think about how long the credits would be! You don’t have to be Wonder Woman. Be in a Wonder Woman movie: rally your crew, pick your favorite director, and gather your favorite cast members around you. That’s how things get done. Together.
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We live our lives minute by minute, day by day, and only in hindsight do the broad patterns emerge.
And sometimes, it helps to think through those patterns out loud.
As it has been for decades now, working to age 92 is a cherished goal of mine. With a goal like that, sustainability is key. To that end, I work four days a week, and I spend some weeks at a time working from afar, enjoying other scenery while I stay connected with you and with my teammates via the wonders of the internet and mobile telephones.
My partners and I have been putting some energy into thinking about how I spend those working hours.
A few months ago, Billy, Greg, and Caitie asked me what I wanted more of, so I told them about what I enjoy most. I love our business objective: striving to grow your buckets. My favorite activities are talking to you as well as researching the opportunities and challenges that might impact your portfolios.
So then, we realized: to do more of what I want at work, don’t I need to be doing less of everything else?
Clients, that was a moment when I realized how blessed I am to have the partners I do. They asked me that question, and I could almost feel a load lifting from my shoulders as I shouted, “Heck yes!”
You see, there are tasks that have long been on my plate because once upon a time, mine was the only plate. Parts of my role have included a lot of logistical overhead, the type of detail work that I don’t always enjoy having to do—especially if I could be talking with our clients or researching investments instead!
All this is to say, there are some exciting organizational changes on the horizon. I’ve long believed that we are all better off working from our strengths and passions, and we’ve got a chance to reshuffle what goes on each of our plates.
What will not change is the four-person collaborative ownership and management team that shapes the enterprise that works to take care of your business. I simply will get to spend more time doing the parts of the work that are most gratifying to me.
We’re looking forward to less stress, and more joy, all around. And I’m excited. Stay tuned in the coming weeks: details are on the way!
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Animal metaphors are all over the business world. There are cash cows and fat cats and top dogs—oh my!
And maybe you’ve heard of bull markets and bear markets? Bulls swipe their horns up to attack; bears swipe their paws down to attack. Bullish investors are preparing for prices to rise; bearish investors are preparing for prices to fall. These terms are common in investment and market news, but as you’ve learned with us, we don’t like to follow the herd. (See what we did there?)
We don’t need an animal mascot that’s ready to “attack.” Business isn’t war. We’re trying to grow something here.
But we could use an animal that’s flexible, light on its feet, and can think for itself. It should be a strong climber, too—ready for all the ups and downs of investing!
And if we’re picking our own mascot, would it really be so bad if it also happened to be adorable?
Enter, the red panda.
Maybe you’ve already heard of these little cuties, but did you know how unique red pandas are? Red pandas are sometimes confused with foxes, traditional panda bears, and even racoons, but they are none of those things! In fact, they are the only species within their genus. They’re one of a kind.
At first glance, you might also think most financial advisors would all be alike. But once you get to know us, you might find out we’re more like the red panda. It’s hard to put us in anybody else’s category. We’re unique, and we can’t help but be ourselves.
As for the other qualities? Red pandas hit the mark.
They’re fabulous climbers, easily scaling mountains and getting up and down trees and bamboo forests. They aren’t afraid to climb down headfirst, nearly vertical (it’s like they know that even the steepest drops won’t go down and down and down forever!). Red pandas have adapted over time and have a “false thumb,” an extra little feature that helps them grip as they climb all over. Flexible? Check.
On their feet, red pandas have special hairs on the soles so that they don’t sink in the snow, even when they’re running and have to change directions. Their bushy tails also help them stabilize, keeping their balance as they walk along tree branches. Light on their feet? Check.
Red pandas prefer solitary thought to group-think, so we know they won’t be getting caught up in any herd mentality or stampedes.
And to top it off, did we mention that red pandas are a symbol of good fortune in some cultures?
No guarantees, of course, but beyond the bulls and the bears… red pandas might be the animal mascot we’ve been waiting for.
Clients, what do you think: is it time for 228 Main to adopt an animal friend for a mascot? Call or write in, any time.
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What does it mean for our business to be “client-centered”? (Wait, shouldn’t all business be “client-centered”?…) In this week’s video, Mark and Caitie talk about the role the firm plays in our relationships with you, what the client’s job is, and more.
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As a parent, I’ve noticed a lot of messages out there telling me that “moms are superheroes.” (Seriously, you can get it on t-shirts and coffee mugs and wine glasses and keychains and anything else you can think of.)
There’s this idea that a woman today is someone who can handle anything and get it all done. She’s strong. She’s always ready. She basically needs to be Wonder Woman: fight for what’s right, get the job done, and somehow avoid a wardrobe malfunction!
Whether it’s parenthood or my personal life or my career, I know I don’t need any superhuman expectations piled on me. Regular, everyday expectations are plenty, thank you.
Instead of comparing myself to a superhero, I prefer to think of myself as a superhero in a superhero movie.
I never have to go it alone. If this is a superhero movie, then I get my own stunt double! I get a makeup artist and an assistant and a crew and editors—and we’re all in it together. Same goal. We’re all part of making the story happen. The production only comes together when we each pitch in.
These things are true of my real life, too. I bring my time and talents to work so that I have a chance to use them in service of my clients. I get help from my teammates when I have a question or could benefit from someone else’s strengths. I don’t have to do it all, and neither do my teammates.
Clients, I want you to know that we go to work for you. We want your story to come to life, and we feel lucky to be part of the production process. If it was reasonable to expect everybody to just figure it all out on their own, we wouldn’t be in business—and a lot of life would probably get more stressful, trying to tough things out alone.
Each of us is the star of our own show, but think about how long the credits would be.
Clients, reach out any time. We’re glad to be fighting for you, together.
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Did you know that the main ingredient to the magic pie is stock ownership? Common stock is more than just a transaction on the computer—it’s an investment, a share of an enterprise that’s out there in the world, trying to do something. Best part about a magic pie? There is plenty to go around.
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It would be nice if the path were always clear or the choice always obvious. But a life aimed at the long haul is a little more complicated. No guarantees, but at least there’s plenty of good company here in the messy real world.
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If you’re looking for an excuse to give up, you’ll always find one. How to change the tire and get back on the road.
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