Changes for David

I delayed writing about this for a few days to give Finacorp time to take care of a few items.? Here is what Finacorp distributed to clients last week:

[deleted] — for legal reasons, I have had to take that down.? Let’s just say that I am without employment at present.

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I have nothing but gratitude for Finacorp over the past 2.5 years.? After leaving my prior employer, I needed something flexible that would enable me to work from home.? Finacorp provided that, but as it is now, I no longer need to work from home.? I’m ready for new challenges, and though I don’t want to move from Maryland, I look at the situation as one that offers more upside than downside versus the past.

So what am I thinking about to employ myself?

  • Equity management?? I’m still doing well against the markets, and am trying to figure how I could make a business out of this.? My track record is approaching 10 years with my own money, and I continue to do well.? If you have ideas for me here, I am open.? I can share an auditable track record with anyone that makes a credible proposal to me.? I will be talking with a number of parties that have expressed interest in the past.
  • Working for an investment firm in the area?? Could be a good idea, I’ll be talking to friends and contacts.
  • Go back to being an actuary?? Mmm… not that many opportunities around here for that, but if anyone has ideas, I will listen.
  • Consulting?? I already have one good consulting project.? If I could get enough clients, that could be workable.? Potentially, I could consult for buy or sell-side firms in investing.? I could also do that on the insurance side.? As it is, in most of my jobs, I acted as an internal consultant to the firm when weird projects would come up.? I love big, broad, unstructured problems.? Consulting could also go along with…
  • Writing?? I have a few book ideas, but that doesn’t pay.? I would be willing to consider “corporate blogger” type positions, but I have no idea whether any companies would want to consider me for that.
  • Publish a newsletter around my investing models?? I really don’t like this idea; I think most newsletters aren’t worth buying, and I am not sure I would want to be associated with doing writing one.
  • Work for the government?? Oddly, I have applied for an “Asset Management Specialist” position at the SEC, and have been talking with contacts that I have within the government about a variety of possibilities.? I’ve written enough about economic and finance reform — it may be time to move from theory to practice.
  • Other ideas?? You want me to work for you from a distance?? I will listen to proposals.

For the next month or so I am going to be batting around ideas.? After that, I will try to focus on the most promising ideas.? I welcome your support at this time of transition.? Feel free to e-mail me.

Again, thanks for reading.? My readers make my blog better.

Sincerely,

David

21 thoughts on “Changes for David

  1. are there ways for you to possibly pre-sell a book, using your blog platform as a way to publicize it?

    maybe through something like kickstarter.org?

  2. Having just left the government (I was at the FHFA), I would seriously consider not going to the government unless you fully understand the position. The government is exactly like the stereotype – a small handful of individuals at the top make decisions while the other 90% do “busy” work. If you could get into creating policy or drafting regulations, that could be interesting and could lead to productive work. I would be very leery of any type of “analyst” or “specialist” role because you might end up spending your days on work that doesn’t make a difference. I personally didn’t like my government experience and am looking forward to starting my new position back in the real world where productive activity actually takes place.

  3. David,
    Very best of luck with your choices. I’ll be greedy and hope you choose a path that allows you to continue this blog!

  4. I’ll second (third?) the fact that if there was a book, I’d buy it, and if it was a kickstarter project, I’d fund it, if it meant I got a copy of the book when it was out.

  5. David:

    Don’t overlook the possibility of doing a combination of two or three things, rather than just “one good one.”

    Personally, I manage assets, teach a few classes at local colleges and I am writing a book.

    I don’t advise going the traditional publisher route. They’ll expect you to market the book yourself and for you to promise “buybacks.”

    I’ll bet you could write a 100-page Ebook and sell at least 2,000 copies in less than 12 months for roughly $20 per book. Your only real “cost” is time; however, I suspect you enjoy the writing.

    Above all, be true to your self…

    “A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.” ~ Michel deMontaigne

  6. I don’t know enough about your choices. You have material to write a book, but I don’t think it would be a direct source of income. More useful as advertisement and to gain status. But my best wishes to wherever you decide going.

  7. David,

    Best of wishes in your future endeavors. I think Kent makes a good point about considering a combination of things with multiple streams of income.

    On that note, Kent, any chance we could chat or correspond via e-mail (my e-mail is MDCigan@gmail.com). You are doing EXACTLY what I would LIKE to be doing. Right now, I am an investment advisor with very, very, very small AUM, basically just friends and family and the total is under $1M, certainly not enough to live on, and I simultaneously work a full-time analyst job (not in investments). The schedule is slowly killing me, and I would love to transition to teaching part-time at the college level as there are a bunch of local community colleges where I live and I taught classes as a grad student getting my MBA many years ago, and enjoyed it. I’d love to get any thoughts, advice, words of wisdom you might have on making this transition.

  8. David,
    You are one of the most thoughtful, grounded financial bloggers around. I greatly enjoy your blog. Good luck with your search.

  9. A while back you did a post on what if you had to manage a huge amount for a very long time (near perpetuity).

    Anyway, I stumbled upon someone trying to do this for families. Investing advice for people who want to provide for the success of their families for dozens of generations. Basically, he is a very successful businessman who has a vision, but not really all the professional tools to fully manage it. That is my impression. I haven’t consulted him personally.

    I think you would have skills to help people who want to make that kind of commitment on behalf of the future of their family, perhaps by developing a financial product or investment vehicle rather than consulting with families directly.

    http://www.strategicinheritance.com/

  10. Best of luck. I was afraid this was going to be an “accrued interest-I-am-not-blogging-anymore” so I have to admit I was somewhat relieved.

    Since you are in Maryland, you should hook up with John Hussman. You would make a wonderful addition to his research staff!

  11. Hey David, sorry to hear that. But at the same time, think of it as a blessing in disguise for a new opportunity. I’m sure plenty of intriguing offers will (if they haven’t already) come your way.

    My advice would be to sit down and think about what you’d enjoy doing the most. What would get you excited and energized each and every morning. Go with your gut on that and best of luck! It’s great to see an outpouring of support from your readers… means you’re doing something right!

    Jay
    @marketfolly

  12. Sorry to hear about the situation David. Sometimes these situations can propel you in new directions and I think you are doing the right thing by contemplating various scenarios.

    As some have suggested above, teaching–it doesn’t have to be in college; I can see you teaching specialist courses to bank employees, junior actuaries, analysts, and so forth–seems like a good fit if you can find the right environment.

    I don’t necessarily agree with everything on your blog but I think you are one of the most detailed thinkers around, at least in the blogging world.

    I wish you all the best and may you find whatever you seek…

  13. Sorry to hear, but like everyone else, I have no doubt you’ll have (if you haven’t already) dozens of offers flying your way, so yes, blessing in (thinly-veiled) disguise, absolutely!

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