Douglas

Tayer Wedding

Douglas

Next subject: Douglas, the youngest, is a quintessential ally and friend. He was, I think, three years old when we moved to Rye, where he went to a preschool program at the Purchase Community House. He adjusted very well to his new surroundings and seemed perfectly happy, getting lots of attention as “the baby.” It was when we went to a hockey game – and Doug, probably age 8 or so, jumped up and strummed on a toy guitar each time there was a goal – that his future as a musician was predictable. In junior high and high school, his bedroom was a young musician’s paradise, consisting of drums and any loud instruments worth naming, emanating painfully loud noise/music/songs which drove Tom crazy since he was a nut for quiet.

Doug continues to exercise his lifetime passion in the music field. He

captivated guests and the hired band at Wendy’s and Marc’s wedding as he borrowed Marc’s guitar and played his heart out.

An accomplished guitarist of various genres – rock, jazz, blues – he built a state of the art recording studio in his Hollywood Hills home. Always updating it with the latest equipment and technologies, he named his studio Hollyview Sound. It features an abundance of vintage instruments, amplifiers and recording equipment. Realizing that “State of the art recording in a natural environment where inspiration is everything,” Doug installed an SSL console as the centerpiece of the studio. As he put it, “In pursuit of my ultimate goal, I knew there was no other way to go – when you’re in a tuned room with an SSL console, it becomes obvious what is wrong with a track or mix. I decided to make this a contribution back to the music business: to make the classic sound right again.”

With a breathtaking view of Laurel Canyon, musicians, friends and students record music sessions in a natural, lush environment. Doug has often been the engineer in these sessions. He is also master chef for his many constant guests who revel in their luck: great cuisine and great music. He has composed scores of original, heartfelt songs and has sent me a number of CDs which I continue to play.

On another subject, Doug was the manager of the primary family investment vehicle. Ron Vinder, our financial analyst, got it right: “From my understanding Doug got involved in the family’s finances shortly before I did around 2012. Although Doug did not come from a financial background,

Hollyview Sound Hollyview Sound

he has taken the time to learn the family’s financials. He asked many questions because he wants a full understanding of how the monetary moves are invested and work together. I strongly believe that today Doug understands the monies as well as anyone does. He looks through every detail. Most don’t want to spend the time or energy figuring this all out. Doug has done that and the family is far better off for it. He has found mistakes that other advisors have made and has gone through the steps in correcting them. He leaves no stone unturned and has remained conservative which serves our family well.”

As for me, I was relieved that this managerial job was taken over by Doug who took this responsibility very seriously as he was doing a service for the family. He was regularly in touch with the lawyer, accountant and advisors. In Doug’s words: “Helping your family can be a very rewarding and satisfying experience. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance. My mother has always done everything in her power to help her kids in so many ways, and now it was my turn to assist her in regards to the family business. In the last decade or so, the family business transitioned from real estate into more liquid assets like equities and other similar investments. There are a lot of investments and transactions to follow daily. So, I became the manager of our family business, and attend to these duties daily. While my mother used to deal with most of these oversights, it was now my turn to watch over the

investments and transactions, making sure the financial advisors are in line and acting in the family’s best interest. Of course, my role was based on common sense rather than financial expertise. A manager means watching other people’s money, not just your own. This can be stressful and certainly makes one pay close attention to current events as well as politics. It has been a great experience for me to help the family, especially my mother, and I will continue to be vigilant, moving forward in protecting the family as best I can.”

A special THANK YOU is due to Doug who wears many hats. In addition to his role as financial manager, he is not only my son but one of my best friends. He’s also my computer expert, always exhibiting unlimited patience and skill. We talk several times a week, and have established a close relationship which transcends the usual mother-child connection. But now there’s another individual who has won Doug’s heart: Wonka, his beautiful, frisky and beloved Labrador retriever!