Ultimately, what really matters is performance. I’ve seen unsophisticated investors make more money in the stock market than well-educated heavyweights.

So many people confuse company analysis with stock analysis. The market performs a function, correcting supply and demand imbalances by setting a price. Your job is to understand those factors that influence the supply and demand for a stock.

I’m amazed at how much valuable insight and wisdom is ignored in the name of originality.  Bear markets have been my best instructors – they have taught me that raising cash and ignoring the allure of profits is healthy.

Speculation, investing, gambling – don’t get too hung up on the euphemisms that describe what we do. How we handle the opportunities to engage in risk defines our title. I know many investors who have lost more for their clients than most speculators.

I had the good fortune to work with Bill O’Neil for nearly 20 years during some of the most exciting and difficult markets. His optimism was only exceeded by his respect for risk. His insight and savviness came from a continuous and honest assessment of the empirical facts. His observations lead to rules, tactics and strategy. He consistently applied his investment methodology, making slight modifications and adjustments along the way to leverage his observed inferences about what really influenced investors. His edge came from his mastery at blending the best of various disciplines. He was a humble grandmaster who seemed to enjoy the success of the trade more than the accumulation of wealth.

I’ve been in the equity markets for more than 30 years. The first programming language I learned was COBOL, then Pascal, then PL/I, then BASIC.  My passion for new technologies is what spurred me to promote our market research tool PANARAY^® as an innovative visual display of investment information.

I love playing squash. I’ve noticed that the type of people drawn to this obscure sport are individualistic, disciplined, eccentric, clever, unconventional, and aspirational, all qualities similar to those found in many great investors.