Heart of a Teacher, Mind of an Investor
Growing up as the son of two special education teachers in Upstate New York, I learned the importance of education and caring for others from an early age. While I always aspired to be a teacher, I also had a strong interest in business, leading me to develop a career at the intersection of both fields.
My formal education includes a Bachelor of Sciences in Finance and Economics from the University of Delaware and an MBA in Finance and Investment Analysis from the University of Houston. Over the years, I have dedicated myself to mastering the three pillars of personal finance: investing, reducing expenses, and income growth.
My informal education spans 25 years of investing in the stock market, starting at the age of 12 when I watched my father input stock purchases on a Packard Bell PC with AOL dial-up internet. Throughout my journey, I have made numerous mistakes, from chasing high-flying internet stocks to trading options and buying high while selling low. However, these experiences have taught me that successful investing does not require risky strategies. Instead, it demands discipline in consistently investing over time into diversified assets. Over time, these “boring” strategies become quite rewarding as you witness the fruits of your labor. This is the core of what I teach: how to excel at the fundamentals of investing.
In addition to investing, I have focused on growing my income in the business world. Although I do not own a multi-million dollar business or manage a massive real estate portfolio, I have worked a 9-5 job in business for 15 years, during which I have increased my income sevenfold. I have been promoted seven times across three companies and have achieved a position in the top 5% of earners in the U.S. This success is a result of hard work, smart decision-making, understanding my unique skills, and taking calculated risks to seize new opportunities and increase my pay.
Living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, New York City, for eight years, I have learned that wealth is not about how much money you make, but how much you can keep. I emphasize the importance of living within one’s means and finding ways to reduce expenses amidst the endless wants that society presents.
By mastering these three skills—investing, reducing expenses, and income growth—anyone can achieve financial independence, leading to more time enjoying life and less time worrying about making ends meet.
Let’s connect. I am available to provide financial coaching and help you learn The Steady Investor Way.
Stay Steady,
Ricky