Let me introduce myself...

Hello, fellow Steemians! I joined Steemit to connect with others who believe in the twin virtues of finding oneself and helping others (and I believe I’ve come to the right place!), and to contribute value by sharing the knowledge and wisdom I’ve accumulated over the course of my previous career as a financial advisor in the United States and my current career as an independent trader/investor.

I’m sure many of you see the financial industry as a “wretched hive of scum and villainy”, but I entered it precisely because it needed more goodguys! And I loved the company I was a part of. The people I got to work with were of the highest character, and we were all there to make a difference in people’s lives. I would still be there were it not for the following realization: there are many legitimate vehicles for attaining financial freedom, yet only a handful I could recommend to clients if I wanted to make any money as a financial advisor. Don't get me wrong: there’s nothing inherently immoral about being a financial advisor (though of course there are those who behave unethically). But I came to realize that my position didn't give me the freedom to be the financial educator I was truly meant to be. For example, if I was aware of a financial service that was well-suited to a client’s needs but my company didn’t have a selling agreement with the service provider, then industry regulations actually prohibited me from even talking about the service! If I see value in something, I want to be able to tell the world about it - and let them decide if it's for them.

As a financial educator, I strongly believe there’s no one right answer for everyone. We all have different interests, different temperaments, and different sets of circumstances. So everything I present is meant as food for thought. It’s up to you to decide what to do with it.

One other thing I want you to know about me: I’m very much a “cut the fluff and get to the point” kind of guy, and I think you’ll find my writing style reflects that. But I’m also a big fan of not falling into the trap of negativity. Yes, crap happens, but crap is fertilizer. It’s easy to forget that darkness is followed by light, and to have trouble seeing beyond the dark times that befall us. But having faith that there’s light at the end of the tunnel isn’t unrealistic. On the other hand, believing that the tunnel will go on forever - now that is unrealistic!

I look forward to this journey we’re all taking together!

(By the way, the picture is a photo I took at Lake Minnewanka in the spectacular Canadian Rockies. I hope you like it!)