A Painful Loss: The Client I Couldn't Secure

by Henrik Bacilieri

Some blog entries feel easy to write—like milestones I’m proud to document. This one isn’t like that.

I’ve learned to celebrate the wins and sit with the losses. And this month, I had to sit with one that stung deeply: I lost a major investor. A client who, on paper, seemed like a perfect fit. They were ready to commit seven figures for long-term asset growth, they liked my approach, and we had aligned goals.

But I couldn’t close.

And the reason? Something most people never think twice about.

Photosensitive Epilepsy: The Unseen Barrier

For those who don’t know, I have photosensitive epilepsy. It means flashing lights, screen flickers, or rapid video transitions can trigger seizures.

I’ve learned to manage it carefully over the years—no video games, strict screen filters, no late-night scrolling marathons. But one place it still hits hard? Video conferencing.

With all the tools we now rely on—Zoom, FaceTime, Teams—video calls are the default for long-distance meetings. And this potential investor? They lived out of state.
Their preference, naturally, was to video chat. Not just once, but regularly.

I explained my condition gently and offered other ways to stay connected—voice calls, email briefs, personalized screen recordings. I even sent over a well-designed portfolio overview and a detailed plan proposal.

They responded respectfully but firmly:

“I really value face-to-face interaction. I understand your condition, but for me, this is just a dealbreaker.”

And that was it.

The Sting of What-Ifs

Losing someone that significant—financially and professionally—isn’t just about the money. It’s about what it represents.

I started playing the "what-if" game in my head:

  • What if I’d pushed harder?

  • What if I’d gotten someone else to handle the video side?

  • What if I wasn’t dealing with this condition at all?

But every time I play that game, it ends the same way:
You can’t build your life on someone else’s comfort zone.

Not Everything Is in My Control

There are parts of my life I can train, discipline, and improve. I’ve done that with my financial knowledge, my communication, my investing strategy, and my work ethic.

But my epilepsy isn’t one of them. It’s not a badge of weakness—it’s just part of my reality.

So when someone walks away because of that, I have to let them go.
I’d rather lose a client than compromise my health or pretend to be someone I’m not.

Life Goes On

Since that loss, I’ve had two new referrals from existing clients. One’s a young couple navigating their first six-figure year. The other’s a local small business owner looking to build retirement options.

Neither of them cared about video calls. They cared about trust.

This isn’t a feel-good “everything works out” story. Some things don’t.
But I’m still here, still growing, and still building something that aligns with my reality—not just someone else’s preference.

Thanks for being part of this journey—the real, imperfect, honest one.

Henrik Bacilieri

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