What was your first job as a journalist?
This is it. I didn’t start in a newsroom or with a press pass—I came into journalism through financial education. After running my own RIA firm, I shifted to writing about financial planning, economic policy, and investment strategies to help people make informed decisions. Now, whether I’m breaking down estate planning misconceptions or analyzing how policy changes affect personal finance, my focus is the same: educating, informing, and cutting through misinformation—just without the traditional journalism path.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
As an old man who started typing class in junior high—on a typewriter, no less—I’ve seen technology reshape how we communicate. I remember using white-out for mistakes, and when we finally got a typewriter with an erase button, it was revolutionary (and incredibly loud). Then, our school stopped teaching penmanship because we were told we wouldn’t need cursive or even handwriting in the future. Fast forward, and now we’re consuming news in 280-character sound bites, viral TikToks, and AI-generated headlines before we’ve had our morning coffee.
Social media has made news faster but not always better. While it gives instant access to information, it also prioritizes engagement over accuracy. The real challenge is sorting fact from fiction in an era where algorithms push the most viral (not necessarily the most truthful) content. And honestly, after all these years, I kind of miss white-out—it at least gave you a moment to think before rewriting history.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has completely reshaped how news is consumed, reported, and spread—for better and worse. On one hand, it provides instant access to breaking news, democratizes information, and allows experts to directly engage with audiences. On the other, it’s amplified misinformation, shortened attention spans, and turned fact-based reporting into a battle for engagement.
For financial and political news, social media has made hot takes more popular than deep analysis, which can be dangerous when people make real-life decisions based on viral content instead of sound financial principles. The challenge now is finding ways to balance speed with accuracy, engagement with credibility, and making sure critical topics don’t get lost in the noise.
