I don’t know about you, but my last name means something to me.

I come from a people called the Wends, also called Sorbs, who were a conglomeration of several Slavic tribes prominent in the first millennium. Never a nation-state, the Wends were decimated by centuries of surrounding wars to the point of near-extinction. Even in survival, oppression from surrounding kingdoms stole economic opportunity and cultural identity. And yet, during the mid-1600s in a small region called Lusatia, a new Wendish family was formed. 

While most Wends at the time were foregoing their heritage and assimilating to German culture, Hans Bähr did the opposite. A master blacksmith of German roots found himself in the small Wendish town of Gröditz. Why live amongst the lowly Sorbs? Most likely, due to his commitment to Protestant theology, fleeing persecution from Catholic powers of the day. All we know for certain is that he died an elder of the Protestant church in Gröditz, and his descendants thereafter changed the spelling of their surname from the German Bähr to a more Sorbian-looking Biar. In other words, he didn’t just live amongst the Wends; he became a Wend. The smithy was passed down from generation to generation, and the Christian faith as well. 

6 generations later, Lusatia was no longer a safe haven for Protestants, nor of Wendish culture. Prussia had gone as far as prohibiting the Wends from speaking their native tongue. Still, it wasn’t until a forced ban was enacted on their church in the name of state-mandated religion that my forefathers said ‘enough is enough.’

That’s when my great-great-great-great grandfather Johann, his wife Magdalene, and their 4- and 1-year-old sons boarded the Ben Nevis — joining a pilgrimage of nearly 600 Wends to America in search of religious liberty.

Miraculously surviving outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever, they arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1855, traveled inland, and pioneered a new settlement they named Serbin (i.e., ‘Sorbian land’). 

What then? They built a church, of course! A church which ultimately would mother their denominational presence in Texas, now with over 130,000 congregants statewide. They built a school for their kids, too. Both have been in continual use ever since. Johann built a forgery, and for the sake of survival, a farm as well. He passed on his expertise to his sons, who grew into fine blacksmiths, craftsmen, photographers, and more. Despite living in the American South since the mid-1800s, they never used slaves, choosing instead to embrace hard work themselves. They were committed husbands and fathers, with not a single divorce in my nearly 400-year lineage. They were active community members known for their honesty, trustworthiness, and generosity.

To put it simply, they shared a faith that didn’t stay inside their church walls, but impacted the quality of their characters, the bravery of their entrepreneurship, and the priority of their relationships. 

In more recent generations, I’ve learned that my family’s legacy is not primarily about blacksmithing, nor about Wendish culture, nor where we live, nor even the specific denomination we ascribe to. And yet, if you have ever known my dad, or his dad, or his, you’ve experienced the same resemblance of character that has reverberated throughout our ancestral history. The best way I could describe it? Belief, Integrity, Action, and Relation. Conveniently, abbreviated BIAR. Truly, this is the BIAR Legacy:

A Belief that is palpable, that makes what is unseen more real than even the things that are seen. An unwavering commitment to truth, and one that is both dependable and accountable — walking closely to pastoral leadership, actively serving the church in whatever capacity needed. A Belief that is worth sacrificing everything for, again and again. 

An Integrity that is protected like the treasure it is. A choice made daily with resolve, refusing to offer excuses. A clarity about what’s worth standing for, one that can only come from the inside — not from the expectations of the surrounding culture. An Integrity that remains pure whether in public or in private, light or dark. 

An Action that faces difficult challenges head on with courage: not overly zealous, but willing to risk, willing to fail, and willing to learn. A determination to get up again and work, to put hands to the plow, to do something hard today that will matter tomorrow. An Action that resists the mentality of victimhood, choosing instead to look in the mirror and ask, “What are you going to do about it?” 

A Relation that builds bridges to people rather than walls around them, treating others the way they deserve to be treated. Whether by blood, faith, business, or simply by the word of a mutual friend, trusting and upholding those relationships with a loyalty unbeknownst to most of humankind. A Relation that sees people as people — as parts of a family, not a network — worthy of love and respect. A Relation that means something.

As a seventh generation American and twelfth generation Biar, I can only hope to continue in these same values that those who have gone before me carried so instinctively. And yet, these values deserve to be a part of everyone’s story, not unique to mine.

This is why BIAR Legacy exists. To honor my family’s legacy, and to multiply yours. A legacy of Belief, Integrity, Action, and Relation. 

What would it look like if these values shaped our financial strategies, rather than our finances bending and blurring our values? What if we thought less about how good our investments perform, and more about what good? Might that help us leave the kind of legacy we can be proud of, and the kind that will last? 

Further, what if a purpose-driven investment strategy also happened to align with financial outperformance? How might the quality and impact of our lives benefit?

I come from a rich heritage of honest work done in good faith, and it’d be my honor to work for you, too. The BIAR Legacy Anvil emblemizes not only the profession and values of my ancestry, but also the firm’s commitment to working arduously, without shortcuts, on behalf of an economically diverse clientele. 

I also come from a rich heritage of prioritizing God distinctly above money or significance — even the Anvil is reminiscent of an altar, illustrating this very intent. As such, BIAR Legacy is not the firm for everyone, or even for most. Review our culture and services to inquire about whether we could fit on your professional team.