About Me

I grew up in inner-city Brooklyn, the son of an immigrant single mom, after my dad passed away when I was a baby. His loss left a huge void in our lives, and we faced immense challenges. Violence, social instability, and financial hardship were constant realities. When my mom lost her job, we found ourselves on the brink of homelessness, but were saved by family and food stamps. Yet, our home was always filled with love, faith, and an unshakable belief that we could rise above our circumstances.

Determined to help my family, I pursued vocational training at Automotive High School, thinking a trade would be the quickest way to contribute. But my life took an unexpected turn when incredible teachers and mentors saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. Their guidance expanded my vision and like a sparkplug, ignited a fire that has fueled my journey ever since.

Those early struggles became the foundation of my resilience and determination. They taught me that, no matter how tough life gets, it’s possible to rise above and achieve more than you ever thought possible.

My Professional Journey

I founded Career Free Agency to help financial services pros break free from feeling stuck in neutral and take control of their careers. With over 20 years of Wall Street experience, I’m passionate about helping others find clarity, purpose, and fulfillment in their professional lives.

My career began far from Wall Street, with a wrench in hand and a dream of fixing cars. But through reinvention and resilience, I kept driving forward. I currently lead the strategy and execution of a $2 billion impact investing portfolio for one of the largest institutional investors in the country. Before that, I managed over $1 billion in high-yield fixed income investments as a Senior Director at a global asset management firm. My journey also included roles as a credit research analyst publishing opinions on technology, media, and entertainment companies. My formative years were shaped as a junior analyst at one of the world's premier investment banks.

Each chapter of my life has been defined by struggle, adaptability, and commitment to continuous growth.

Education is the key

My success is rooted in a relentless drive to learn and grow. A college scholarship changed my trajectory, but fear of losing it due to poor grades pushed me to work harder than ever. That determination enabled me to graduate Valedictorian from the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University with a dual bachelors degree in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Visual Art.

I went on to earn an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and, after several years of study, achieved the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. A lifelong learner, I continue sharpening my leadership skills through training with the renowned High Performance Institute.