A Boot-Scootin’ Good Time

From world-class wine tastings to private concerts with Eli Young Band, GDS Wealth Management’s client appreciation events are always highly anticipated events.
This year, GDS Wealth Management, a Flower Mound-based wealth management firm, hosted its fourth annual client appreciation event on April 9th. Over four hundred clients saddled up and enjoyed a fun-filled evening of live music, armadillo racing, mechanical bull riding, and much more at Circle R Ranch. Clients also had the honor of meeting and conversing with guest speaker, Robert O’Neill, a renowned war hero and one of the most highly decorated combat veterans of our time.
Robert O’Neill, the man who shot and killed Osama Bin Laden, gave an inspiring speech that was met with a standing ovation. He described the grueling process of becoming a Navy SEAL and a member of SEAL Team Six and walked the audience through the events of the days leading up to the raid on Bin Laden’s compound. Through the course of these stories, Rob reminded the audience of the importance of preparation, strong leadership, risk assessment, and tenacity – life lessons that apply not only to the military but to business and daily life.
In addition to his motivating speech, Rob was generous enough to sign three hundred and fifty copies of his memoir, The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama Bin Laden, for clients who attended the event. It was a true honor to have such a renowned American
hero attend this event.
Rob’s birthday was the day after the event, so the GDS team surprised him with a birthday celebration consisting of cake, flowers, and good old-fashioned Texas bourbon.
After dinner and Rob’s speech, clients headed outside to enjoy the beautiful spring evening. Armadillo races were a fan favorite – GDS Wealth Management founder and president, Glen Smith, even participated in the fun. To take part in the races, participants had to crawl on their hands and knees behind their assigned armadillo, blowing on the armadillo’s tail to encourage it to move faster.
For those who weren’t inclined to race an armadillo, there was another opportunity to interact with the fascinating animals. A three-year-old “retired racer” was brought out to meet event attendees, and he won everyone over with his docile and sweet personality. He enjoyed several photo ops before falling
asleep on the table as he received
head scratches.
Clients also tried their hand at riding the mechanical bull, and with three different difficulty settings, riders of all skill levels got to attempt to stay on the bull for eight seconds. There were a few spectacular crash landings, but a lot of cowboys and cowgirls managed
to hang on until the bell rung!
Clients had the opportunity to meet and take photos with a live longhorn steer who made the trek from Fort Worth to Flower Mound just for this event. He was a gentle giant and thoroughly enjoyed being the center of
so much attention.
While all of the activities were going on outside, Big City Outlaws played live music inside. Attendees two-stepped the night away to
country classics.
All in all, the event was a fabulous evening and lived up to the GDS commitment to putting the client first. GDS Wealth Management has always made it a priority to focus on its clients and their needs. They deliver personalized, phenomenal service directly to you and your family, and work closely with you to develop a plan that meets your financial needs and goals. This client-oriented service has earned GDS numerous awards, including the most recent honor of being named a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor.
If you are interested in learning more about GDS Wealth Management’s team and mission, please visit www.gdswealth.com or call 469.212.8072. They would love to see you at the next client appreciation event!