Why I started Latham Financial

Last year I made one of the biggest changes of my life. After a great 21-year career with the government as a mathematician and computer security expert, I left and founded Latham Financial. On one hand, this was a dramatic career change after working in cyber-security and analyzing information systems for over two decades. On the other hand, it was the continuation of a life-long interest in finance and investing, and an opportunity to help others navigate that world.

I have been investing for many years. Even as a child I was always exceptionally fascinated by financial concepts. I remember when my parents first described how banks would pay interest on your savings account and how intrigued I was with the concept that money could grow over time. In grade school, I started buying mutual funds. A few years later, I began researching and purchasing individual stocks. Over the years, the interest in investing continued to develop.

I remember reading Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor. It introduced me formally to many of the concepts of analyzing investments, and set me on a path of voraciously reading, listening, and learning as much as I could. I applied the principles to my own investing and continued to incorporate the concepts and techniques I learned. For me, investing was always something that was genuinely fun. It is a highly technical puzzle that challenges the mind, but with real-life application that directly impacts one’s goals and aspirations.

Meanwhile, over the years, I also observed that many people do not have access to top-notch financial resources. Certainly, not everyone has the same intense interest in learning to navigate stocks, bonds, options, exchange-traded-funds, and portfolio construction. However, there are also aspects of the financial system that hinder many from getting the guidance they need:

• The financial system functions in such a way that those who already have a large amount of wealth have access to the most resources.

• Many investment managers require large minimum account sizes.

• The system, including much financial advice, is geared toward a one-size-fits-all approach.

• It can be highly impersonal.

I founded Latham Financial with a vision for working with people to help them achieve the unique goals most important to them. Money and investing are not just about math and there is no one-size-fits-all formula. It is deeply personal and interacts with some of the most important decisions and goals in your life. At the heart, my vision was for an investing firm that would:

• Provide state-of-the-art financial and investing resources to people from all kinds of financial backgrounds.

• Have no minimum account size, so you can start from where you are.

• Gear investment management and planning toward the unique life situations and goals of my clients.

• Enable you to work personally with someone you trust. Every client works directly with me, the founder and owner.

If you think you might be interested in gaining a trusted partner in your financial journey, I would love to have a conversation with you.

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