Home: Malibu, CA. Age: 57. Birthplace: Wauseon, OH. Profession: Alternative financial services. Organization: Lear Capital. Title: Founder. Significant other: My wife, Amanda. Alma mater: University of Montana.
Latest accomplishment: Helping raise awareness and funds for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which my daughter has had since 18 months old. Latest contribution to others: Helped raise over $100,000 for the Arthritis Foundation to help Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Starting my first business from a basement bedroom when I was 25. Hobbies: Travel, exercise, and food. Recent travel or adventure: Costa Rica with my family where we went on a one mile zipline adventure. I am not fond of heights, so this took some coaxing. Last book read: The Most Important Thing, by Howard Marks. Recent unique acquisition: A letter from Muhammed Ali to his mother calming her nerves when he was going to fight in Germany.
Personality profile: Focused, open, driven. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Fair. Moral compass: The Bible. How do you define a perfect friendship? Listening, even if what you are hearing may not feel good at the time. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Open communication without becoming upset when giving or getting constructive criticism. What is your greatest joy? My children. What is your greatest fear? Something life-changing happening to my children. What is your guilty pleasure? Great chocolate. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Doctors and nurses, great school teachers. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Looking for great investment ideas and productivity apps or tools for business and personal time. What is at the top of your bucket list? Japan. How do you relieve stress? Meditation. What is your go-to workout? An app called Fitbod. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Family.
What was your first paying job? Working at a lumber mill in Montana. What was your favorite college course? Finance. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Tonka trucks. What book have you repeatedly read? Good to Great, by Jim Collins. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Green Mile. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Quote with a picture of Muhammad Ali. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My first manager, Craig Gillespie. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Always keep trying, never give up. What’s the best advice you received in your career? You will learn more from adversity than success. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Video conferencing. What is your favorite app? Flipboard. What is your go-to source of news and information? Flipboard. What company or organization do you most admire? Patagonia. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? 9/11.
What is your big idea?
Creating an app in which anyone can purchase 100% physical gold with the idea of everyone pooling their purchases, so we own as much gold as a country. A Central Bank of, by and for the people.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Term limits so politicians can’t take advantage of their life-long position over the people who voted them in. What message do you want to send out into the world? Be strong in your beliefs, but not to the detriment of others. What mega-trend most excites you? Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? The Joy of Life: Turning Challenges into Opportunities. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Ryan Reynolds. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My parents. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An astronaut. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family, at our house, talking about the great times we’ve had and where we were all going to meet in heaven. What advice would you give your younger self? Be patient. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The night I met my wife.
Personal mission: My family. Personal motto: Always keep trying, never give up. Favorite quote: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts” (Winston Churchill).
