Here’s the thing: if you’re reading my story up to this point, it means you’re either looking to start or you’re already engaged in financial planning and investing in some capacity. I imagine most of you would love to have a portfolio of passive income-generating assets to cover your living expenses, freeing yourself from worrying about daily purchases. I certainly did, but I found it challenging as I searched the web, trying to piece together scattered information in hopes of finding the right answers. In hindsight, I wish someone had guided me through that journey. That’s why I’m sharing my firsthand experience—because our lives and finances are too important to be left to mere rhetoric or pontification.
Better Rich than Poor
I began my career as a pilot, relishing the thrill of flight and the rewards it brought. However, despite a steady income, I often found myself overspending, grappling with financial challenges, and lacking any real understanding of personal financial planning. Determined to change this, I embarked on a mission to enhance my financial literacy and improve my financial situation.
The Global Financial Crisis Changed My Life
My journey into the financial world began during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Through deep learning and some painful experiences with retail trading, my passion for investing grew as I learned valuable lessons about market dynamics, behavioral emotions, and decision-making. To further deepen my expertise in financial analytics, I pursued the rigorous CFA program, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of conventional investing and what it means to provide competent financial planning and wealth management.
Today, by combining my CFA expertise with the TPA© framework, I've successfully helped both myself and my clients gain a solid understanding of our financial situations. Together, we have created diversified portfolios that generate multiple streams of predictable passive income, making progress toward achieving our financial milestones.
My Financial Planning Philosophy
Have you ever wondered why some insurers can offer cheaper premiums than their competitors or why some promise bonuses as part of their marketing strategy to entice clients? Are these merely sales gimmicks, or do they truly benefit you in the long run?
I believe financial planning is not just about numbers; it’s about helping people realize their dreams and providing them with a sense of security for the future. My commitment is to fully embrace a Clients-First approach by sharing what you may not already know and revealing the "secret sauces" that allow you to make more informed decisions about your future. My fiduciary obligation is always to you first—before myself or my firm.
My Investment Philosophy
Investment goals and approaches are diverse and may vary, but when it comes to building long-term wealth, I believe in investing with the assumption that markets are information-efficient. Trying to outguess the markets can quickly lead to wealth destruction. Instead, I advocate looking beyond daily headlines and short-term trends while focusing on an evidence-based approach. This involves utilizing information embedded in market prices to target outperformance and manage risk, with the aim of capturing higher expected returns over time. I also like to refer to this as the "sleep-better" investing approach—your best bet to achieve higher terminal wealth on your portfolio by letting the markets work for you. This allows you to focus on what truly matters in your life: spending quality time with family and loved ones, and pursuing your hobbies.
