For decades, I have been passionate about educating individual investors on how to find trustworthy, competent financial advisors, and AdvisorSmart for the Individual Investor is a product of that passion.

After working for years at a greedy, “profit over people” commission-based investment firm, I finally had enough. I decided to establish my own fee-only financial advisory firm, designed to put the consumer first by providing objective advice that is not influenced by commissions or bonuses. Since then, I have advocated for the fee-only financial advice model, which is available to all individual investors, no matter your age, circumstances, or portfolio size.

My strong commitment to ethical, people-centered work began to form when I was quite young. I grew up in a working-class family (the sixth child in a family of nine boys) with a strong sense of right and wrong. Attending college at St. John’s University further shaped my moral compass, particularly a course called “Values in Business and Economics.” In this class, we studied moral behavior in business and read several books on the topic, which became foundational in the way I would approach and think about business for the rest of my life.

For nearly twenty years, I have endeavored to do right by my clients by putting their interests first and educating them on the value of hiring a client-centric financial advisor (preferably a fee-only fiduciary). With the release of my book, I hope to spread my insights and advice much further.

I’ve grown tired of hearing stories about average people losing piles of money to hidden fees and commissions. I’m fed up with Wall Street flagrantly duping their clients because they can, because they’ve bribed Washington to essentially look the other way. I’m sick of Goliath trampling the little guy time and again.

This book is my attempt to fight back, to spread my message, and to arm consumers with what they need most: knowledge. There is nothing more dangerous to the status quo than an educated public.

When I’m not advocating for individual investors, I can be found reading a book in my den, golfing, trying new local restaurants with my wife, or enjoying nearby Lake Harriet. My wife and I are the parents of three young adult children who are just starting their careers.