How did you get your start in the financial industry?

I started in 1998 working with the retirement plans of the employees of nonprofit hospitals. It was quite a change from the agricultural research I had been doing for The University of California, Davis.  After three years in the financial industry I received my Certified Financial Planner® designation and began to do more comprehensive planning.

What most frustrated you about your previous work in the financial industry

The downturn of the “Great Recession” in 2008 and the impact it had on my clients led me to rethink my investing approach. To that point in my career I had been taught a lot about selling products through the broker dealer I was with, but very little about an academic approach to investing.  After seeing the pain my clients were going through in that downturn, I made a commitment to studying investing at a deeper level.  I wanted to gain knowledge that did not come from the mutual fund companies my broker dealer wanted me to sell, the financial media, the annuity companies, or others with a vested interest.  I wanted information that came from sources who did not have financial products to sell at the time they did the work-research that came from prestigious institutions like The University of Chicago.

What led you to the approach at Paul Winkler Inc.?

This “reeducation” led me to leave the broker dealer I was with as they were not cooperative in helping me apply this new knowledge and, in fact, put up barrier after barrier to its implementation.  Eventually I opened my own company where I could deploy this “evidence based” approach with my clients that I felt (and still feel) is a much superior process.  Following this academic approach is how I got to know Paul Winkler.

I have always had a commitment to lifelong learning so after forming my own company I continued this education and that is how I originally met Paul-we were at an educational conference together.  I was very impressed by Paul’s depth of knowledge on the academics of investing but what really stood out was his ability to teach these concepts.  Paul’s commitment to learning and passion for sharing that information left a strong impression with me from the start.

A couple years after first meeting Paul, in 2014, I found out through a mutual friend that he was looking for some help as his business in Middle Tennessee was rapidly expanding.  I contacted him immediately and started the process that brought me to Nashville and I am incredibly thankful to be here.  I had never thought about relocating but the opportunity to go and work with Paul was perfect. We had the exact same philosophy on an academically based investment approach, and I knew I could expand my own knowledge and teaching abilities and ultimately help my clients more.

What is the most satisfying aspect of how you now operate as a financial planner?

It is a bit cliché, but very true, that the biggest rewards of what we do come from the relationships we have with our clients. I am very fortunate to know so many people from so many different walks of life and I am constantly amazed how interesting and creative my clients are.  I work with farmers, medical professionals, academics, students, business owners, and many, many others. Knowing all these different people has surely enriched my life.

What do you like to do to relax?

Away from financial planning my focus is mostly on family time-my wife Yvonne, my kids Angelo and Gianna, and Vito the Airedale Terrier. Most weekends involve running kids around to sports, trying to get some exercise, fixing things around the house, and fixing up some special weekend dinners.   Over the last year or so I have begun to take up woodworking and get a great deal of enjoyment out of creating new projects.