Steve, what do you like about investment management? I’m a numbers guy, and I enjoy the analytical task of coming up with a solid financial plan very much. But what I really value is the opportunity to get to know the wonderful people in our community. It is important to me to sit down with you, listen carefully, and learn about your goals and circumstances.

What’s your approach? I want to be sure that I understand your personal situation and am truly able to work in your best interests. I want to ensure you are comfortable and confident in the plan that we create together. I believe this is a people business, so I answer all your calls and emails personally.

Where does the “numbers guy” stuff come into your approach? After I get to know you and your situation, I apply a lot of fairly complex math to create solutions that will work well for your unique circumstances. I enjoy talking through the math with people who are interested, but I can also keep the math behind the scenes for people who aren’t interested. Mainly, I want to be sure you always have all your questions answered.

Why did you start Rain Dog Financial? Originally, I just wanted to do some investment planning for myself. In the 1990s, I had worked at the Russell Company on high-end investment tools for institutional clients. I assumed that by the mid-2020s similar capabilities would be available to individual investors, and I was surprised to find that they weren’t.

I view investment planning as fundamentally a forecasting problem, and I have a deep background in forecasting, so I decided to build my own investment planning tool. I incorporated Nobel prize winning work from Herbert Simon, Harry Markowitz, William Sharpe, Daniel Kahneman, Eugene Fama, Robert Shiller, and lots of additional research. I have put all that into an investment planning method that I use to provide highly customized guidance to Rain Dog’s clients.

How do your personal experiences affect your approach? I bring the life experiences of starting multiple businesses, shepherding them through ups and downs, being married and divorced, losing a parent, and raising two children and six dogs (not all at once!). Life can throw some challenging curve balls, and I understand that at both a financial planning level and a personal level.

Are there any types of clients you especially like to work with? I like the way that good financial planning can help individuals and families in non-financial ways. I particularly enjoy working with couples who are a little out of synch on their financial objectives (which many couples are). I get great satisfaction from finding creative solutions that work well for both of them. Of course, I like finding creative solutions for couples who are in synch, families, and individuals, too.