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For stockbroker Stewart Ginn, the ocean is more than water and waves; it’s an escape, a teacher, and a place of presence. Known as the Broker of Food for his culinary storytelling, Stewart also carries the identity of a financial advisor. Yet when he steps onto a surfboard, all those roles fade away.
Stewart says, “Surfing is an engaging activity that encourages a disconnection from digital devices, including smartphones. It provides an excellent opportunity for social interaction and connection with the natural elements.”
That presence is what Stewart values most. Surfing for him is not about skill; he’s quick to admit he’s not a great surfer. “I love it, but I’m not good at it,” he says. “Still, being out there lets me really enjoy the moment, to share community with my kids or friends, to ask what’s going on in their lives, or sometimes just to be quiet together.”
In an industry where the word “stock” usually refers to markets and money, Stewart finds his version in the rhythms of the sea. “When you are wound up and stressed, being out in the ocean just brings you back to a sense of calm,” he explains. “You can’t control it. Some forces are bigger than us. I’m just a dude sitting on a board, bobbing up and down, trying to catch a great wave.”
The ocean, Stewart insists, is humbling. He shares, “Sometimes you get on the best wave ever, and it doesn’t go well. Sometimes you get on the worst wave ever, and it goes great. And sometimes, in the smallest waves possible, you take a board to the head. That’s life. You can’t control it all.”
These lessons extend beyond surfing. Stewart uses them to frame how he works with clients. “If you fall off, you just need to get back up. That’s the same thing I tell people about finances and about life. You can plan perfectly, and things can still go sideways. But if you keep perspective, you’ll pop back up,” he states.
For Stewart, surfing also underscores the value of rest, something too easily forgotten in a hyperconnected world. “We have our phones, emails, everything right in front of us. We never take a step just to sit back and enjoy friendship or companionship. Out in the water, all of that stops. You can just breathe,” he says.
Faith plays a role here, too. Stewart sees surfing as a reminder of surrender. He remarks, “You try to hold back the ocean, you can’t do it. You might think you’re in control, but you’re not. That perspective changes how I see everything else.”
Interestingly, he even finds humor in the danger. “When the waves get big, it’s the best cardio ever,” he says. “When you are trying not to drown, you burn a lot of calories. And when you try not to fail in front of your kids, it adds intensity. My kids are way better surfers than I am, but that’s part of the fun.”
Beyond the waves, Stewart ties these lessons back to his professional life. The time he spends surfing clears his mind, making him sharper and more attentive when he returns to work. “Surfing gives me space. It makes me a better advisor, a better listener. When I sit with a client after being out in the water, I can really focus on what they need without distraction,” he says.
At its core, surfing is escapism, but not escapism in the sense of running away. It’s escapism as reconnection. It allows Stewart to reconnect with himself, with his family, and with his values. “Surfing is just my medium,” he says. “For others, it could be something else. But everyone needs that escape, that place where they can breathe, let go, and remember what matters.”
In calling himself both a broker of food and a financial broker, Stewart plays with the concept of stock in all its forms. Surfing, though, is where he finds the stock of stillness, a resource that fuels every other part of his life.
“Surfing reminds me that life is not about control, but about joy,” Stewart concludes. “It’s about getting back up when you fall, laughing at the wipeouts, and cherishing the moments you can’t plan. That’s what makes the ride worth it.”
