Street Art, Kobra, and the Lesson for Advisors

I’m in New York this week, and one of my favorite things about being here is stumbling across Eduardo Kobra’s murals. His kaleidoscopic colors and portraits light up Manhattan’s streets, and every time I see one, I’m reminded of how powerful it is to bring your gifts directly to people.

From São Paulo Streets to Global Walls

Kobra picked up spray paint at 11 years old on the outskirts of São Paulo.

By 2011, he was invited to paint his first commissioned mural in Lyon, France—an opportunity that turned his raw street art into global demand.

Fast-forward to today: he’s painted over 3,000 murals across five continents. His work is instantly recognizable, not because it’s everywhere, but because it carries something deeper: historical figures reframed in a modern, emotional context.

Anne Frank. Bob Dylan. Gandhi. Indigenous elders.

Kobra reminds us that the past is not dusty—it speaks to us here and now.

Advisors Do the Same Thing

Financial advice is, at its core, the same art.

We take historical events—markets, cycles, past returns.

We place them in a modern context—what this means for you today, in this moment of volatility or opportunity.

We balance long-term perspective with short-term empathy.

When we do this well, clients don’t just hear numbers. They feel seen. They understand where they’ve come from, where they are, and where they’re going.

Bypassing the Gallery = Bypassing the Wirehouse

Kobra didn’t wait for galleries to accept him. He bypassed the system, painting where people already were. That’s what made his art accessible—and unforgettable.

Independent advisors have the same opportunity. You don’t need the wirehouse “gallery” to validate your work. You can bypass it, bring your gift directly to your clients, and let them encounter it in full color.

The Takeaway

Kobra teaches us:

• Visibility matters—share your gift where people are.

• Context matters—translate history into relevance.

• Emotion matters—connection beats information every time.

Every mural is a reminder: the world doesn’t need more gatekeepers. It needs more people willing to bring their gifts, boldly, where others can encounter them.

For Kobra, that’s a wall in New York City.

For you, it’s the families and communities who need your advice—today.