Most people don’t ask about firm structure in a first meeting. It’s natural to focus on the relationship because you feel trust before you feel the ramifications of a chosen structure. How are decisions made? How are conflicts handled? How quickly does someone take responsibility when something shifts?
Our industry runs on layers. Firms are often owned by other firms. Capital partners may carry decision rights. Titles like “partner” can mean very different things depending on the fine print. That distance may not show up on a website but you will ultimately feel it in the way advice is delivered and what care for your family is possible over the long term.
At Somerset we believe you deserve a structure that supports your outcomes.
The life experience I can most closely draw from was standing in the crowds for The Eras Tour. It was a firsthand experience of the difference it makes when someone reclaims their work. When Taylor Swift re-recorded her works with full creative and financial control, her fans responded. They could feel the alignment and showed up accordingly.
That kind of clarity is rare. You recognize it when you see it and remember how it feels.
This is the model we’re building at Somerset. The people doing the work are the same people responsible for its outcomes. There are no hidden incentives or offstage priorities. No distance between intention and execution.
When structure and alignment come together, everything steadies. The planning deepens. The questions get better. The answers become clearer.
In the next letter, I’ll share how we designed Somerset to reflect these values
Lauren Pearson
The most important thing in my life is my family. My husband, Andrew, and our three smart and brave daughters.