Chattanoogan: Dean Draper - Looking Out For The Interests Of Others

 Standing in his office beside the bull figurine on his credenza, Dean Draper enjoys sharing his passion for what he does. The bull in terms of the stock market represents when everything in the economy is great, people are finding jobs, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing, and stocks are rising.

Dean is a fee-based investment advisor and he enjoys it, “My goal is to consistently beat a passive investment portfolio by tactically and actively managing my clients accounts using a disciplined strategy.  By using a disciplined system my goal is to reduce volatility - which isn’t easy.

It’s a challenge and I love it.” Dean says.

“I charge a fee for assets under management and my client knows exactly what they are paying. I am not making a commission– my clients appreciate the transparency.”

Mr. Draper knows his business and what is best for his clients as they stay informed on a consistent basis, “I go in and help my clients design a portfolio based on what their needs and objectives are and ask, ‘what are they trying to accomplish’. ‘What is the risk-tolerance level’, ‘what is their time horizon’? And then I manage that portfolio and I do it in correspondence with them – I do not have discretion over my clients’ accounts.   I don’t have the authority to go in and do what I want to do. I talk with them advising them about a particular investment and they tell me what they want to do and I manage it for them.”

The man sitting at his desk in a crisp white shirt and blue-striped tie is anything but the staunch stock broker, who is looking to make his fortune, “I love my clients, I would do anything for them- they can call me anytime.

"I am an independent registered investment advisor representative. I don’t have anyone telling me that I have to be in a meeting – it’s just me taking care of my clients. You look and see where there is opportunity and measure that with risk and try to build a portfolio and that portfolio can morph and change on a regular basis. It is fun, it’s challenging and I love it.”

With the down economy over the last decade or more, Dean feels confident that it has actually helped his business. “Actually, it’s been a blessing for me. Ten years ago, I made a shift over to investments. It was a great time to get into the market for me, because 2000-2002 were really bad years. The market dropped around 40 percent within a three-year period. It was good for me because I was able to find unhappy people. ‘My broker has never called me’ or ‘I can’t get a hold of my broker’ …Great,” Dean insists, “I am here to take care of them.”

Dean’s energy and excitement is contagious when you talk with him. He isn’t just passionate about what he does for a living – he is passionate about living.

Who is the man behind the suit? “I value my faith, my relationships, taking care of my family - for me balance is the key.”

Dean volunteers at the Salvation Army on a weekly basis. He is very active in his church and is also active in mentoring a young man whose father died when he was very young. “We are only on this earth for a short time, and the older I get, the more I recognize that life is not at our speed. If God gives me another year or another 40 years, what do I want to accomplish? I want to impute values and help people - to lead people to Christ, encourage those that are going through a tough time and help those that are in need. I find great satisfaction out of that.”

Maturing has humbled Dean in what was important to him some years ago, “In 1981 the Dallas Cowboys, my favorite team, lost to the San Francisco 49ers …Dwight Clark caught a 27-yard touchdown pass at the end of the game… I was devastated. I was 20 years old and mortified. A flush went through my whole body and my heart sank down to my knees. If Dallas lost every game next year, I couldn’t care less. Not that I don’t enjoy football but it’s just a game. There are more important things in life - more than a game; it’s about faith, family and friends.”

Challenges help us reprioritize and I have had several real challenges in life that have gotten me on my knees. You start thinking… ‘I’m not in control’ – so what does God want from me?” Dean favors a quote from Pete Sampras, “If you want to make God laugh – tell Him what your plans are.” Dean acknowledges that things haven’t always turned out the way he “wanted” them to, but as he looks back he says that things have turned out the way they “should” have.  

One of Dean’s most trusted, well-respected friends, Hugh Huffaker, has made an impact in many people lives but also in Dean’s life. Dean had been praying for God to give him something to do aside from his business and family endeavors. Hugh approached Dean with an idea and Dean was elated.

“We made a decision to start helping the homeless,” Dean recalls, “We established a group we call ‘Samaritan Road’. We go to the Salvation Army every Friday morning - and we have served over 20 thousand sausage-biscuits in the last five years. We pick up 100 every Friday – they show up in droves… people that are living under bridges, they live in the woods... I mean - tough situations. It would break your heart,” Dean voices sincerely.

The group doesn’t leave out developing relationships with Christ for those they assist, “We do devotion; we meet with them individually and find out what is going on in their lives. People have donated to this ministry with the sole purpose of helping the homeless. We were able to help people get their drivers licenses, keep their power on, help pay their rent, get them across the country to go to rehab, reuniting families,’ help people get jobs… it has been amazing. I will tell you- it was the last thing I would ever have pictured myself doing. I, by nature, am a selfish person and tend to  look at people and think ‘It’s your own fault’… but now having gone through my own share of challenges, now I see that this is real – this could be my son, my father, my mother.”

Dean smiles as he sees the image in his mind when he shares, “You will see Hugh with six homeless people hanging out of his car as he takes them to the DMV to get their driver’s license. He is the most humble man I know,” Dean says, holding high esteem for his friend.

Dean joyfully shares with laughter, “What is fun is when I am walking down the street talking with a business acquaintance and here comes someone,” Dean holds his arm out and plays the role of one of his homeless friends, “and they say, ‘hey cuz, how you doin?’ and people are looking at me like, ‘do you know this guy?’ and their mind is blown – which is fun!”

If you are reading this and thinking that the name Draper sounds familiar; you may have heard of Dean’s father, the remarkable Dr. Glenn Draper who currently leads and directs the Glenn Draper Singers.  

It is with loving pride that Dean recounts his father’s accomplishments, “My father was the minister of music at First Presbyterian Church here in Chattanooga from 1968 to 2002. He was head of Choral Activities at UTC from 1968 through 2002, and directed ‘The Lake Junaluska Singers’ from 1954 through 2009. He formed and led all of these groups.” 

Dean continues, “His group, ‘The Miami Singing Hurricanes’ (University of Miami) sang on the Ed Sullivan Show three times and performed numerous USO Tours for the United State Military across the world. His groups have made over 60 overseas tours, 12 appearances at the White House, Sung at Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.” 

Dr. Draper’s groups have sung for five different Presidents of the United States and have sung with various entertainers from Lee Greenwood, Tony Bennett, Shirley Jones, Barry Manilow, Liberace and Wayne Newton.”  

Dean insist that his father could not have been all that he was - or still is without his mother, Lounelle’s support and her being such a part of it all. She herself has had a lifelong career as a singer.

“My mother is an amazing woman; she actually performed on the Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960's.” In speaking about his family Dean claims, “I grew up in ‘Leave it to Beaverville’ – I’d wake up in the morning to use the bathroom and come back and my bed was made, dinner on the table at 6 every night - she was the consummate mother… and an amazing wife to my dad. He needed somebody who could keep up with him. And she can. As busy as my dad was, traveling the world – he always had time for us. As you can imagine, I could never live up to both of them,” Dean vows.

When asked if Dean himself sings, he admitted he does and in jest, he pipes a low Johnny Cash’, “I walk the Line”, (though he maintains that he wanted to be like Elton John when he was going through college).

Stating that he was born in Miami in 1961 Dean quips, “You can write that it was 1971, I am going to the courthouse to legally have my age changed.” 

Joking aside, Dean mentions other family - his brother named Glenn whom he asserts, “He is one of my heroes, he is in Montgomery, in the same business I am in.”  And Dean has 3 sons, all of whom give him great joy.

To add to the contentment in his family life, Dean also has good friends that are an important part in his relationships.

He tells an amusing story, about a joke his friends, Dan and Kyle played on him. The two were with Dean and his best buddy Bill, on a golf trip to Hilton Head. Dan masterfully, digitally-enhanced photos of all of the friends in which Dean appeared to be 20 pounds heavier than he actually was and the others with much better physiques.

Dean swears that the photos looked real and it was done so well that he honestly had no idea, “I looked like Humpty Dumpty and they all looked like Tarzan.” The photos bothered him so much that he decided to make a change to lose some weight. “I gave up sugar and lost 20 pounds,” Dean says.

When his buddies would make comments about how well he looked with the weight gone, Dean would tell them, “It was those pictures, if I had not seen them; I would never have known I needed to lose weight.” Dean kept the pictures as a reminder as the weight came off and he kept it off. Two years went by and the friends who had all been sworn to secrecy never said a word until one day Kyle couldn’t hold back any longer.

Kyle literally dropped from his chair in his office while Dean was there and laughed uncontrollably. He finally admitted the prank of Dan doctoring the pictures. With good friends and a loving family, it is no surprise that Dean keeps a delightful, joyous disposition.

Dean attests that he gets his ambition and his drive from his father. One of his favorite quotes he remembers his dad saying is “Swing hard… you might hit something,” meaning “don’t be afraid”.  He adds that he gets his compassion and zeal from his mother and from both of his parents- integrity. 

What Dean wants from his near future is not what you would think a stock broker’s goals would be, “I want to do more community and global outreach. I want to have an impact on a personal basis, not just with someone’s portfolio, but that they really know that I care about them. Life isn’t about being recognized; it’s about honoring God and helping others.”