Well, everyone… We officially made it to my second blog!
In my first post, I shared why I wanted to start writing… Now, I’d love to take you back to where it all began, including how I got my start and a little more about who I am.
So, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.
I grew up in a small town called West Liberty, Ohio. It’s the sort of place where everyone waves at everyone, the ice cream, chocolate, and pizza are unforgettable (this is your heads up that I am a MAJOR foodie and will bring food into any conversation). You come to understand early on that hard work pays off.
Oh, and a bonus of small-town living, your neighbor will call your mom if (and when) you get in trouble!
My family and the whole community drilled lessons into me about doing things the right way, being consistent, and owning up to your mistakes.
Flashy? Not really.
Purposeful? Absolutely.
That mindset stuck with me as I started thinking about what was next.
After high school, I decided to attend The University of Findlay. My choice was not about the fanciness or being in a slightly bigger, buzzing town (at least that is how Findlay felt compared to West Liberty). It simply felt like home to me.
I wanted somewhere I could actually grow, make some new friends, and not get lost in the crowd. Plus, a small town meant I wouldn’t miss home too much.
I dove headfirst into the world of finance and international business, and it didn’t take long to figure out that finance isn’t just about math and spreadsheets. It’s understanding how money moves, why decisions matter, and how you can create real impact if you know what you’re doing.
Once I graduated, I jumped into my first “real job” at Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.
Photo of me getting ready to take the Corporate jet to Mexico.
Why?
Honestly, I wanted real hands-on experience. The benefits certainly didn’t hurt either!
I first joined as an intern in internal controls while finishing up my senior year, but as soon I was given the opportunity I interviewed and was hired as a Financial Analyst in Global Financial Planning and Analysis. This is where I cut my teeth in finance by managing forecasts and financial statements for a large, global corporation. After that, I moved into a plant accountant role, learning how to break down manufacturing costs, and juggle budgets.
This corporate finance experience gave me a solid foundation in technical skills and an inside look at how global businesses operate. But along the way, I realized something important…
My passion wasn’t in accounting. It wasn’t in the corporate number-crunching.
My passion was investment management.
I wanted to help people grow their wealth and pursue their biggest goals through smart financial strategies. That realization is what ultimately led me into financial services, and eventually to Hixon Zuercher Capital Management (HZCM).
Here’s a fun twist: My wife, Jenna, actually worked here after we got married, up until our oldest daughter, Juliana, was born. She couldn’t stop raving about how awesome it was, and I could see how happy she was when she got home from work every day.
Picking a boutique firm over a big corporation was intentional.
At a smaller business, I could actually see the difference I was making for clients, work shoulder-to-shoulder with my team, and taking on big responsibilities (instead of waiting years for a shot at something cool).
Honestly, I’d rather be a big cog in a small wheel than a tiny cog that nobody sees in a giant machine.
Plus, I loved the long-term perspective. It wasn’t about chasing quarterly numbers or impressing shareholders. It’s about taking care of people, building relationships, and helping families grow wealth for generations.
I kicked things off at HZCM as the firm’s first-ever Research Analyst, digging into stocks, ETFs, mutual funds… you name it. I helped design portfolios using all sorts of analysis (fundamental, macro, you get the picture). Then after my friend and our Co-Founder / Former CEO, Adam Zuercher retired, I was promoted to Co-Portfolio Manager, helping manage hundreds of millions in assets alongside our CEO, Tony Hixon, and then promoted to Director of Investments, making sure our processes were top-notch, and our clients were happy.
But the story doesn’t end there…
Here’s my proudest moment: On January 1, 2026, I became Chief Investment Officer and Partner at the firm. That’s been a dream of mine for years, and I’m genuinely thrilled to help lead the team.
On top of all that, I’m a Co-Host of The Wealth Mindset Show Podcast, where our team dishes out financial tips, investment strategies, and real-life advice.
Looking back at my journey from West Liberty to Findlay, and Cooper Tire to Hixon Zuercher, it wasn’t a straight line, but I can truly say it was full of purpose.
I chose finance because I love solving problems, decoding the markets, and helping people make smart money moves.
I chose a small business because I wanted work that matters, real relationships, and the chance to make a visible impact.
Every step along the way taught me something important: if you stick to long-term thinking and make disciplined decisions, you’ll see real results.
Whether it’s for your clients, your team, or your own career, that principle should kept you grounded. It sure does for me! It’s at the core of everything I do as my team helps families build lasting wealth and share insights through this blog and our podcast.
Are you taking purposeful steps toward building a future that matters?
