FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Continuing education is a strong component of being a Wealth Coach. I received my Bachelors of Science in Finance from Maryland State Towson University before continuing my education at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business. I travel several times a year to hear leading experts in the field of Finance, including the Father of Fundamental Investing Dr. Harry Markowitz and Dr Eugene Fama.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
We live in a world of financial chaos: market volatility, information overload, and unlimited financial products from which to choose. Weve also witnessed financial scandals that have had a dramatic negative impact on the wealth of many people, not to mention threats to our national security. While personal finance is supposed to be a logical process based on sound analytical principals, many people have found it difficult to maintain composure during these turbulent times. As a result, many people make decisions that run completely counter to their best interest. Adding to the problem is the fact that many so called advisors are actually product salesman in disguise. They offer free advice in the hopes of a product sale. Or worse, they provide investors with voluminous reports that dont simplify the process, but rather create even more confusion and feelings of uncertainty. Simply put Traditional Financial Planning has failed. It is not a solution, but rather a part of the problem. Our mission is to serve not as your broker, or your insurance agent, or even your planner. Our mission is to serve as Your Coach. To first learn what must happen to live your life without any regret, to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and to guide you to implement a plan for achieving your objectives.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
All across this great land that we live in, we are told that it is our responsibility to save for our golden years. It's part of who we're proud to be. We go to work every day so that we can earn enough to pay our bills and one day pay off our home. We invest our hard earned money instead of spending it now so that one day we can quit our jobs and be free. Every time I hear a prospective client in their 60's tell me that he and his wife have to work "at least another ten years" to be able to retire, I think of all of the thousands of cars stuck in rush hour traffic - literally and figuratively. Each time I travel the freeway, I look at all of the people in the cars around me who are stuck in the nine to five grind every single day; and it makes me sad. I am sad because in college, I learned a way to help get families out of the rat race without speculating and gambling. This afternoon I was looking into the car beside me and I thought "How can I keep this from happening to you? How can I communicate this message in a way that moves and inspires you?" Unfortunately, the prudent way of saving for your future isn't what is taught on TV. It's not what is taught to stock brokers and it's not what they teach to you. If you're not speculating with your money they're not getting paid! Let's face it. The large financial Institutions have a vested interest in getting investors to trade more than they should. That is the bottom line, and there's somewhat of an unholy alliance that the Financial institutions have with the large media outlets, TV, radio and written media, to keep you gambling with your money. Because that's what sells ads on TV. That's what gets magazines placed. You'll find Built-in conflict of interest, because the very people that are buying the ads during the news programs, are the same experts that are featured on the program. If you're not gambling and speculating with your money, the brokerage firms are out of business, the news programs go off the air, and there are people that make a lot of money promoting speculation and gambling with your hard earned money. When I ask people "Did you know that you could lose 40% of your savings by investing in that?" I hear comments like "I had no idea it could be that bad." Time and time again people come to me and ask me to save them, to put them back on the path to retirement, and I think to myself" What if you had met me three years ago. How different might your story be today, if only I had found a way to scream through the vacuum, to be heard over the din of stock pickers and market timers." If you can hear me, I would give you three simple Rules to help you achieve Peace in your financial world.