“The crack of a golf ball hitting a tree. The sound of a golf ball landing squarely in the middle of the fairway. I was one shot from shooting under par for the first time in my life—but in that sound, I heard something else. My dad, laughing. My biggest fan, gone too soon, somehow still there with me.” – Josh Paddock
At Provista Wealth Advisors, we believe life is about more than just planning for the future—it’s about living fully in the present. Too often, we see clients postpone their dreams, waiting for the “perfect” moment that may never come. As a financial planner, I’ve learned that true wealth isn’t just measured in dollars—it’s measured in memories, experiences, and the courage to seize today. This lesson hit me hardest when I lost my father, Randy Paddock, to complications from surgery after a cancer diagnosis. His passing on July 9, 2024, left me with a regret that fuels my mission to help others live with no regrets.
A Father’s Love for Golf and Life
Like most people, my dad wasn’t close to a scratch golfer, but his passion for the game was unmatched. The Golf Channel was his background music, playing 24/7 in my parents’ house. He’d send me, my brother John Mark, and my cousin Uriah golf instructional videos almost daily with enthusiasm, always eager to talk swings and putts. Dad was my biggest fan on the course, asking with genuine excitement, “Did you play golf? How’d you do? Tell me about your round. Did you hit any long drives?” He didn’t just ask to be polite—he lived for those stories, celebrating every birdie like it was his own. This is who my dad was. “You’ll shoot under par one day,” he’d say, even when I doubted it, citing the inevitable double bogey or two that derails a round. His belief carried me forward, even after he was gone.
The Regret That Changed Me
Dad’s dream was to attend The Masters at Augusta National—a pilgrimage for any golf lover. We’d watch it together, marveling at the azaleas and the drama of Amen Corner. I always thought we’d go someday, maybe winning tickets through the lottery. But I didn’t try hard enough to make it happen, assuming we had plenty of time. Then, on February 14, 2024, everything changed. Dad, healthy at 66, faced a sudden cancer diagnosis. He fought bravely for five months, but the battle ended too soon.
Don’t Let Time Pass You By
As a financial planner, I see clients every day who delay their dreams. They save diligently for retirement, but forget to live along the way. Life doesn’t wait—it moves fast, and none of us know our expiration date. Over the years, I’ve helped clients find balance, encouraging them to live for today while securing tomorrow. It’s been rewarding to watch families take dream vacations to places like Italy or Alaska, creating memories with their kids before they grow up. Others have gifted wealth to loved ones during their lifetime—funding a grandchild’s education, helping a child buy their first home, or surprising a sibling with a long-overdue adventure. Some have pursued passions they’d shelved, like starting a small business, restoring a classic car, or taking up painting classes with their spouse. These acts of living fully in the present are what make life rich.
At Provista Wealth Advisors, we’re passionate about helping you avoid regrets. Our team-based approach ensures you have a group of trusted advisors—your own “foursome”—working together to craft a plan that balances today’s joys with tomorrow’s security. We don’t just crunch numbers; we listen to your dreams, your fears, and your stories, building a strategy around what matters most to you.
A Round for Dad
After Dad passed, I made it my mission to honor his belief in me by shooting under par. He always said I could, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Almost two months after my dad passed away, on August 30, 2024, at The Cliffs at Mountain Park, I came close with a 73, one over par. Then, on September 20th at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, I was in the zone—two under par going into the 18th. All I needed was a bogey to seal it. I stepped up, crushed my drive, and watched it sail into the woods, a double bogey looming to once again derail my dream. But then—crack!—it ricocheted off a tree, landing perfectly in the fairway. I swear I could hear Dad chuckling, tossing it back and saying, “I told you so!” I parred the hole, finishing with a 70, two under-par—my first under-par round, the best of my life.
In my car, I wept, missing Dad’s voice asking, “Tell me about your round.” That moment was for him, a reminder to chase dreams relentlessly, because time doesn’t wait.
Dad taught me to rejoice in others’ successes and to listen deeply, lessons rooted in his faith: Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. He believed in me more than I believed in myself, especially when it came to golf.
My biggest regret is not doing everything I could to get him to The Masters. I’d give anything, pay any price to have stood with him on those hallowed grounds, watching the world’s best chase the green jacket. Now, that moment is gone forever. But regret has a way of teaching us. It’s reshaped my purpose—both personally and as a financial planner at Provista Wealth Advisors. My new dream is to honor Dad by attending The Masters one day, and maybe, just maybe, playing Augusta National myself, a goal that feels like a .001% shot but one I’m determined to chase.
Live Today, Plan for Tomorrow
Everyone has their own version of Augusta National. It might be a dream trip with their family, a business idea they’ve put off, or even a simple desire to spend more time at home. Don’t let your dreams become regrets. Whether it’s a trip with your kids, a passion project, or a gift to someone you love, act now. At Provista Wealth Advisors, we’re here to help you find that balance. Our team will build a plan that lets you live fully today while securing your future, so you can look back with no regrets, not “what ifs.”
Let’s start the conversation. Contact Provista Wealth Advisors today to build a plan that honors your dreams—because life is too short to wait.