I've probably talked more clients out of houses than into them. That's not a sales tactic, it's the job. The right fit is the only fit, and a commission isn't worth watching someone settle into the wrong place.

I grew up in the Netherlands and started out in banking, where helping people make big financial decisions felt natural. When I moved to the U.S. in 2017, I assumed I'd stay in finance. The industry here turned out to be more rigid and les...