My interest in finance extends back to an early age and like many children, I had a coin collection and a fascination with money. Growing up, I had chickens from which I sold eggs through my mum's work. My interests in the stockmarket began when I knew I had shares in Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW), I remember peering through the stock tables in the newspaper gripped by the numbers.
When I was 16, I purchased my first shares for myself with mum as trustee, the shares were checked and followed on a daily basis, even at school lunch time. At this time, I started a website design business which aided me with knowledge of dealing with customers and small businesses and assisted in funding my university years.
At 18, I enrolled at the University of Southern Queensland for a double degree in Commerce (Finance) and Science (Mathematics and Statistics), after the first few maths courses, I found it too orientated to engineering for my interests which was of course, financial mathematics. I decided to pursue a degree in Commerce (Finance and Economics). I completed this degree in 2010 with distinction, graduating at the top of the class for the Finance and Economics double major.
Starting work at a local high net worth portfolio management firm in 2009, I commenced my Masters of Applied Finance in 2010 through Kaplan Professional. In October 2013, I received my certificate with a quadruple major in Financial Markets, Financial Planning, Investment Management and Wealth Management.
In 2012, I also commenced the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program concurrently with the Masters and passed the first two levels consecutively.
As a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and with five years experience in the finance industry, four of which has been full time, I am seeking to offer general education on a broad range of topics for the layman and financial professional alike.
My CV is available on request, sam@siwalker.com.au
