He has that successful swagger, doesn’t he?
Stands up straight. Walks tall. Always has that confident grin, too.
It’s like Walker Holloway knows something we don’t, and he’s not telling until that tale is part of a much bigger story that took place in some far-off land or down the street from his house in Wheeling. Seems he’s mysterious like that.
And Walker cares about grace, too, and he doesn’t just watch his step while serving as a financial advisor for Hazlett, Burt & Watson. Mr. Holloway, after all, is an unexpected champion in ballroom dancing.
Sure, he travels, loves sports, and has a few hobbies, but dance has become his chosen path to an artistic creativity he had no idea he possessed. When Walker can’t sleep, he creates routines. When he can snooze, he sometimes dreams of favorite moves with new steps. And when competition is approaching? Like the ever-popular Dancing with the Ohio Valley Stars?
Well, let’s just say, gone goes his grin.
Do you like wearing a suit?
What is it about wearing a suit? This is actually a great question – I do enjoy wearing them.
There’s probably a professionalism aspect, as well. Obviously, there’s the “look the part” feeling with suits and the finance industry, but I really think it keeps me focused a bit more. Linsly did an incredible job preparing me for college academically, but not fashionably. I remember my first day of classes in college and I had no idea how to dress because I never had a choice before – not that it was a bad thing necessarily. I think it may have helped me stay focused more.
There is something called decision fatigue, which some very successful people have tried to avoid by wearing a very similar outfit every day, i.e. Steve Jobs with the black turtle necks or Mark Zuckerberg with the plain T-shirts … not that I am comparing myself to any of these people.
People close to me know there’s a “Business Walker” and a “Fun Walker” and maybe the suit is what differentiates them.
On the topic of staying focused at work – I never liked working from home. It was cool for a couple of days, but it was very easy to lose focus and ultimately, I felt bad because I was distracted. I enjoy being in the office more as it cuts down on nonproductive things. Not sure if an office environment or wearing a suit works for everyone, but it does for me.
How many times a day am I asked for stock picks?
I don’t really get a lot of that out in public as much as if I am meeting with a client. Stock picking is very difficult if not impossible to do consistently well. Just like everyone else on Wall Street or the mainstream media, I don’t have the ability to see the future so our “picks” are all made on assumptions.
I think, unfortunately, stock picking seems like a normal and easy thing to do thanks to social media/Reddit/TV. The meme stock thing that happened a couple of years ago is a good example. It was based on what most investment professionals would look at as reckless decision-making. It did create a great deal of wealth for people who got in and out of those things at the right time, but I would look at that whole event as more luck than skill for those who profited.
I try to train my clients to understand that market volatility is normal/expected and that the key to investing is staying diversified and not overreacting to the “story of the month.” Investing should be for the long term and diversified in a way that suits your goals and needs.
What is it about dance?
For those who don’t know me, I do ballroom dance in my spare time. There is a wonderful charitable organization in Wheeling named Augusta Levy Learning Center and it has an annual fundraiser called “Dancing with the Ohio Valley Stars’, which is similar to the TV show. Local “stars” are paired with a professional dancer and have to perform a dance.
In 2015, they asked me to be one of the “stars,” and initially I signed up with the intention of being goofy with it, but I fell in love with ballroom after my first lesson. After the event, I missed it and began taking lessons on my own and I am now a “pro” in the Augusta Levy event. I also compete outside of that event throughout the year.
Dance is one of those things that if you asked me about it 10 years ago, I would have never considered, but now it’s one thing I wish I started much earlier in life. I could talk about it for hours, but I can only explain the feeling I get from it as a more intense runner’s high. It’s a combination of art, athleticism, and at times, strategy all in one.
Dancing with someone is one of the most personal things I have found – you learn so much about how they move, learn, react, and trust.
What is your all-time favorite song to dance to the most?
The short answer is “I Don’t Like to Give Away What I’m Working on Before I Actually Do It” … but I like you, Steve, so currently it’s “Weapon of Choice” by Fatboy Slim.
My instructor and I are doing a samba to it in about a month. I’m not sure I could pick one for my all-time favorite because my tastes change all the time. It depends on what I am working on or if I hear a song I like.
There are several styles of dance I do and they all have different music. I go to Arthur Murray in Canonsburg at least once a week for classes. It’s a bit of a drive but it gives me a lot of time to listen to music and choreograph in my head. I have a bunch of notes in a notebook and on my phone with ideas for routines or styles that go with certain songs.
My tastes change with styles too – I like them all. Some I struggle with more than others, but if I had to pick one, my favorite would be the Cha Cha. I think it’s the one you can style and personalize the most and probably aligns with songs in my “Top 25 Most Played” playlist.
When you cook for yourself, what is your favorite dish to prepare?
I am not much of a cook. My cousin, Jesse, is much more talented in the kitchen than I am.
I guess my favorite thing to cook myself would be steak and Brussels sprouts. The steak is simple – Kinder’s marinade for a few hours, and then grill.
The Brussels sprouts are just chopped plus olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. I bake them for 20 minutes and then drizzle balsamic vinegar on them once they are done. Viola!
