A lot of these Shidoobee clients aren't in the best financial shape when they come to Potash. The first thing he does with most of them is restructure their debt and start building cash reserves. He also looks at their insurance needs. After these basics are done, he rolls over their 401(k) plans and sets up mutual-fund-based retirement accounts that he rebalances annually using classic asset allocation strategies.
   

It's likely one of the more unusual client niches in the industry, although Shidoobees generally come to the table with low asset levels. "I don't think it's enough to sustain his practice, but it can be a big part of his 2006 marketing plan," says Felicia McCoy, the field vice president at Ameriprise's Annapolis office who, along with other co-workers, often calls Potash by the nickname Shidoobee. "People like to work with people they know and trust, and Doug has a strong bond with these people. If he can get enough clients from them he can build his referral tree."
   

Shari Bruschi, a Shidoobee from Hamilton Square, N.J., who manages a physical rehabilitation facility, transferred her retirement account to Potash after the doctor she previously worked for relocated to the Mayo Clinic. "I got to know what kind of person he is, so I didn't hesitate to put my money with him," she says. "Based on the result so far I'm not disappointed." She said she recommended Potash to a former colleague from her prior employer.
   

For Potash, the fascination with the Stones began when he heard "Time Is On My Side" for the first time. "The song's organ opening was something I never heard before," he says. "It just hit me. In grammar school you were either a Beatles or a Stones fan. We didn't hang out or talk with each other. I still haven't bought a Beatles record to this day."
   

One wonders how often a person can hear, say, “Brown Sugar,” for the umpteenth time without getting sick of it. "Every Stones song reminds me of a certain time in my life," he explains. "They bring back good or bad memories."

"Shattered" is his favorite song; Beggars Banquet his favorite album. Potash has met all of the Stones, but guitarist Ron Wood is his favorite band member. "Ronnie's been so good to us. He's a really friendly guy."
   

Potash has about 500 Stones albums, including bootlegs and live performances. After 40 years, roughly 115 concerts and countless listens to every Stones song ever performed, Potash's enthusiasm for the band is just as strong as it was in 1966, when he saw them in concert for the first time in Atlantic City and tried to rip the buttons off the jacket of the group's founding member, the late Brian Jones. 
   

No longer a threat to band members' clothing, Potash now channels his passion for the Stones into his Shidoobee Web site and into gatherings with his kindred souls. He says there are close to 4,000 registered Shidoobees around the world. He adds his site gets about 50,000 hits daily and has had a total of 24 million hits since it started. It's a labor of love that requires a couple of hours a day to update and maintain. 
   

His college-aged son, Trevor, doesn't share his pop's passion for the Stones. But he's come to appreciate them more over time, Potash says, and they've gone to a handful of shows together.

Potash is in his own world when he goes to Stones' concerts, and likes to share that experience with others. During the prior tour a group of 150 Shidoobees attended a show in London, and Potash planned the entire week for them. "I could see from the look in their eyes that they were having a blast," says Potash. "That's what's important to me."

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