From Nebraska Ranch to Wall Street: The Evolution of a Chief Investment Professional - Part 2

Where Ranching Meets Investing

The time on the ranch taught me about discipline, patience, and simplicity. While I might not have been the strongest ranch hand around, the experience reconnected me with my roots and reminded me what really matters—in life and in investing.

The parallels between ranching and investment management run deeper than most imagine. A rancher’s top priority is the survival and success of the herd. That means managing risk, being resourceful, and planning long-term. Sound familiar?

Both disciplines require:

· A long-term mindset: Ranching—and investing—aren’t about quick wins. They’re about taking smart risks for steady growth over time.

· Resource allocation: A rancher allocates land, feed, and capital much like an investor allocates and diversifies across asset classes to maximize returns.

· Risk management: From volatile cattle prices and harsh weather to unpredictable markets and economic shocks, ranchers need to maintain disciplined risk management to survive and thrive long-term.

Bottom line, a healthy, thriving herd is the goal—just like growing a resilient portfolio.

These aren’t just analogies. They are the operating principles that have guided my investment career.

From Ranch Hand to Wall Street Leader

When I returned to Boston, my ranching experience became a competitive advantage. At Fidelity Investments—where “getting hired was like getting into Harvard”—my manager introduced team members by their nationality and me as “the cowboy from Nebraska.”

That background helped me stand out at Boston-based firms Thomson Financial, Fidelity’s investment arm FMR Co's Strategic Advisors, and later in leadership roles as Chief Investment Officer at Kobren Insight Management and Senior Market Strategist at E*TRADE Capital.

Coming Full Circle

In 2012, I returned home to Nebraska once again—this time to join Orion (then CLS Investments) as Chief Investment Officer. I later became the final president of CLS before serving as CIO at Orion. It felt like everything had come full circle: global investing insights rooted in Midwestern values.

Over the years, I’ve managed hedge funds, mutual funds, and thousands of model portfolios. My investment teams won awards for being the best ETF Strategist and ETF Investor. I’ve navigated market meltdowns and historic rallies. But the principles remain the same: stay humble, serve others, and keep a long-term perspective.

Beyond the Markets

Balance is a guiding principle for me—not just in portfolio construction, but in life. I hike, I paddleboard, I take on what I call “death marches” for physical and mental reset. The same qualities that make for good investing—discipline, perseverance, adaptability—fuel my personal well-being.

After 35 years, when people ask what keeps me going, my answer reflects both my Nebraska roots and global lens: It’s more than a job. It’s a calling to help investors reach their goals.

That’s why I wrote Higher Calling: A Guide to Helping Investors Achieve Their Goals—because that’s the mission.

From cold-calling at Lehman Brothers in the mid-’80s (initially for free!) to helping guide a national investment firm, from the Sandhills of Nebraska to the investment offices of Boston, my journey has reinforced one truth: The best investment decisions come from staying grounded, embracing diversity of thought, and never forgetting who you serve.

As my Dad said—and as I still believe—put the client first, and everything else will take care of itself