[AT WORK]
Investment adviser
Guy Steele puts his fascination
with money to work for other people
Guy Steele >> I've always been fascinated with finances -- how money is made and put to work. At a young age, I admired our free enterprise system and the wealth it produced. Some of my favorite books shared real-life stories about major corporate takeovers, big business deals and the formation of gigantic companies. I decided I wanted to be a part of this exhilarating, fast-paced world.As an investment representative, I help people attain their financial goals. Although my profession offers independence and other benefits, as with most good things in life, there's a price that must be paid to have them.
My workdays are long, typically starting at 6:30 a.m. when I deliver the first of three live morning business reports on KHVH radio. After that, I usually can be found juggling several tasks at a time, including checking the status of the stock market; studying the performance of specific stocks, annuities and mutual funds; setting up appointments and conducting meetings with clients; and drawing up proposals. In the evening, I analyze portfolios, touch bases with clients who are most accessible at home after work, and prepare material for the next day's meetings. In between, I must keep abreast of the latest tax laws, economic updates and investment opportunities. Many times, I put in hours on weekends as well.
I feel blessed to be doing work that interests and challenges me.
In my business, earning people's trust and confidence is key. When a recently-retired client comes to me with his life's savings and says, "Guy, this is all the money I have in the world. I know you'll invest it wisely for me," that's a tremendous responsibility! Some people might find this stressful, but I love it! It's fulfilling to see my clients reach their goals and know I played a role in their success.
Many times I'll come home at the end of the day, totally exhausted. But the way I look at it, I'm helping people turn their dreams into reality-and what job could be better than that?
Editor's note: Guy Steele, head of the Pali Palms Plaza Branch of Edward Jones, writes a financial planning column for the Saturday edition of Hawaii Inc. Send him questions at gsteele2@pixi.com.