Career Moves July 17, 2023 at 12:04 PM
In honor of Independence Day, We're pleased to present ThinkAdvisor's 12th annual Advisors Who Serve(d) compilation, in which we highlight stories of veterans in the advisory world, told in their own words.
Steven Alch
Title/company: Southeast Division Executive / Merrill Wealth ManagementBranch: U.S. Army
Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Second Lieutenant / Captain
Service dates: 1993 – 1998
Work you did: Field Artillery officer stationed at Ft. Bragg, and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division
Brief story that stands out from your service time: In September 1994, I was part of a large effort named Operation Restore Democracy. We were on planes (over 200 of them in total) that were headed to Haiti to conduct an airborne assault into Port-au-Prince International Airport. The mission was to take back the country, as the president had been overthrown by the military commander. Our role was to restore the elected president. We turned around mid-flight and didn't jump because Gen. (RET) Colin Powell and former President Jimmy Carter negotiated a peaceful entry into the country.
I met my future wife two days later. If we had jumped and executed the mission in Haiti, I would have been in Haiti and would never have met her!
Ryan P. Beshany
Title/company: Managing Director, Resident Director / Merrill Wealth ManagementBranch: U.S. Navy
Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Ensign / Commander
Service dates: 2001 – present (currently in the U.S. Navy Reserve serving as a Commander)
Work you did: Naval Aviator (SH-60B Seahawk)
Brief story that stands out from your service time: As a newly commissioned ensign in the Navy, my former upperclassman, who was responsible for my training, continued to serve as my mentor beyond the Naval Academy. His financial guidance was something that shaped my career path beyond the Navy. He simply instructed me to open a Roth IRA and to always maximize my contributions. This seemingly simple advice instilled financial discipline and sparked my passion for the financial markets leading to my career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Relationships like these are what make military service special to me — you are surrounded by a community of mentorship.
Ben Bines
Title/company: Director of Business Development – East / Dynasty Financial PartnersBranch: U.S. Navy
Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Ensign / Lieutenant
Service dates: 2002 – 2012
Work you did: I flew as a Naval Aviator in the single-seat F/A-18C Hornet and F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter aircraft variants for the VFA-136 Knighthawks out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Brief story that stands out from your service time: On my first mission into Afghanistan as a new single-seat F/A-18C pilot, my aircraft had a major hydraulic system failure. I was flying on the wing of our squadron Commanding Officer (CO), David "Killer" Culler, a great American. It was night, and we had pushed into Southern Afghanistan where we'd refuel on an Air Force tanker before starting our first Close Air Support (CAS) mission. As my refueling probe seated in the refueling basket, my warning panel lit up and my jet began an uncontrolled left-hand descending turn that I could only stop by going full afterburner, quickly burning my remaining fuel. There was an indication that if I tried to reset the hydraulic system, I would dump all my hydraulic fluid, leading to an ejection. I was not going to push the reset button.
Killer had seen this before and told me to reset anyway. I followed his advice, and I got back enough flight controls to come out of the afterburner and stay in control. I was now extremely low on fuel, I'd lost several important flight controls and systems, and our refueling tanker had left us due to low fuel. A British L1011 refueling crew came to the rescue and refueled us outside of normal parameters, making it a bit of a hair-raising evolution. After many hours of working the problem, we flew back to the aircraft carrier for a night trap. I still had several failed flight controls. Once aboard, Killer took me aside for some valuable words of encouragement. The next day, it was time to fly again. I credit Killer with getting me home that night.
