Movers and Shakers interview with Peter Plaut

Tell us your name and a little about yourself.

I am Peter Plaut the Executive Director of Wimmer Family Office based in London. We focus on investments in real estate, metals and mining, alternative energy, and natural resources.

For me, Success is determined by the individual. For some individuals, success is defined by financial achievement and for others’ personal achievement. For a Rock Star, success is fame and fortune. For an athlete, success is winning above all else. For someone with a critical illness, success is surviving. For a mom, success is raising her children to be happy.

The meaning of success has changed for me over the years. For most of my childhood and adult life, success was measured my monetary achievement alone. However, following a decade of financial and personal challenges, in recent years, I define success in terms of family and health, while financial status has become less important. Indeed, I am a husband, son, and a dad to 3 amazing sons and 3 wonderful daughters.

What exactly does your company do?

I am the Executive Director of Wimmer Family Office based in London. As a family office, we focus on multi-generational wealth so our investments are long term, and we also have a strong focus on impact investing. Our minimum size investment is $150 million to over $1 billion.

We focus on residential, office, and hospitality across the UK, Western Europe, UAE, US, Canada, Latin America.

What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenges for me have been having to re-invent myself over and over again for the past 35 years, as my industry went through structural changes. This led to multiple jobs and having to re-educate myself and effectively start my career over. On top of this, I went through a nasty divorce and custody battle in 2013 after finding out that my wife of 16 years was cheating.

The way I got through the tough parts was really by staying optimistic, being close to my family, friends, and colleagues, and by always having faith and knowing that it will get better.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

“Find a career that you are passionate about, excited to wake up to, and one that you love.” It truly is the way in which you will never ‘work’ a day in your life. Also, you must work hard and establish a network of mentors and relationships.

Who are your biggest influences and people you admire and why?

I could say Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Neil Armstrong, and many more. But truthfully, it’s my father. My dad is the hardest working and most generous man I know, and I am proud to call him my dad. My dad worked for multiple jobs and went to school at night when I was a child. We never had a lot of money, but my dad always ensured that my family lived in a nice home in an upper-middle-class town and that my sister and I were able to go to summer camp and ski in the winter. To this day, my dad is my rock. I speak to him and my mom every day.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

I have a number of people who have helped me along the way including my dad, David Hendler, and Jon Bass. David Hendler gave me a shot to work in Research and on the Trading Floor of JPMorgan, despite the fact that I didn’t have an MBA from an Ivy League School. Jon Bass gave me countless opportunities to re-invent myself from Research into Sales and Management.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

My six children. Making sure that I raise them right and make the best decisions for them are my most important duties and happiest successes.

How can people follow your journey? Please list your social media URLs

Connect with me on social. I am most active with my professional circle on LinkedIn, but I also spend quite a bit of time on Twitter and Instagram, along with some Facebook. I blog and post it on my website, and also have a daily industry news rundown on my Twitter. Of course, I am always happy to speak with people and answer questions; just DM me or send me an email.

Peter.Plaut@wimmerfinancial.com
www.PeterPlaut.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterplaut/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peter_plaut
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterplaut/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterGPlaut