Watching Trees Grow

Aruj Bhargava and Maggie Mayer join the podcast in a continuation of a multi-part series on credit cards.  Neither Maggie nor Aruj have a credit card, but both are pondering the possibility of applying for one. In this episode they share their “Top 3” cards with Gene and discuss the experience of researching a first credit card.

Are you nervous about credit cards?  If yes, you aren’t alone! Troutwood intern, Aruj Bhargava, a college junior majoring in Finance and Accounting, joins the podcast.  Aruj has a self-professed knowledge about credit cards of 2, with 10 being most knowledgeable.   Listen and learn from Aruj’s questions and join us next episode as we continue the conversation.   

For an 18-year old high school senior, what is the opportunity cost of buying a $13,000 car instead of a $10,000 car?  In this episode, Gene and Rachel discuss that first big money purchase many of us make - our first car.  What happens if that senior chooses to buy the $10k car even though they can afford a $13k car?  Tune in to find out . . .

This special Mailbox Series features questions from the Troutwood community. Each episode is designed to answer your most popular questions, giving you just what you need to know.  Your money choices have consequences. Will you choose wisely?

In this episode of Watching Trees Grow, Gene sits down with Mr. Craig Slaughter, CFA, CIMC, and  Executive Director of the WVIMB, a fund with over $24 billion in assets under management, to discuss Craig's distinguished career path and how he got to where he is today.

Troutwood sits down with nationally recognized FIRE expert, Jackie Cummings Koski, to learn about her journey to financial freedom. Jackie came from an underprivileged single parent household in rural South Carolina. Despite the cards she was dealt, she was able to achieve financial independence before the age of 50 because of her personal finance decisions. If becoming financially independent and retiring early is a goal of yours, listening to Jackie's life story and her expertise on the topic is a must!

Troutwood CEO Gene Natali has a conversation with Jonathan Brelsford, SVP of Finance and Investments for the Pittsburgh Foundation. They unpack the complexity of the institutional investment model and discuss key take-aways for individuals. Jonathan talks about his role at the Pittsburgh Foundation, the path that ultimately led him there (at one point he had plans to be an astronaut), and gives an inside look at the Pittsburgh Foundation and the great work that the organization does.

Greg's passion for passing on knowledge and information about what it takes to become a leader is evident in this great conversation. For high school and college students looking to better themselves and jumpstart their careers, this is a must-watch interview. Watch the episode on YouTube with additional facts and resources.

Dr. Naomi Boyd is the Fred T. Tattersall Chair of Finance and the Associate Dean for Innovation, Outreach, and Engagement at the West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics. Learn more about West Virginia's annual "Finance University," Dr. Boyd's impact on college students at WVU and the path that led her to West Virginia. Finance University is an week-long summer program for K-12 educators, led by Dr. Boyd.

Have you ever wondered how institutions manage billions of dollars? What type of approach they use and the philosophy that they apply? Each institution is different, but there are similarities and lessons that we as individuals can learn from. Vince Barfield is chairman of the investment committee and Trustee for the Hawaii Employees Retirement System. Vince's passion for financial education and his interest in sharing his knowledge from an accomplished career in finance, shines through in this conversation. A military veteran and longtime resident of Hawaii, Vince recently retired after 27-years at The Bank of Hawaii.

Tim Ranzetta is the co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), an organization that is revolutionizing financial literacy education across the United States. Learn more about how to access the suite of NGPF classroom tools, teacher training, and how you can help NGFP accomplish “Mission 2030.” During this conversation, Gene & Tim speak passionately about financial education, and the impact it can have today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Troutwood Tip: Future Entrepreneurs, don’t miss the last 15-minutes!