The purpose of this book is to share my formula for building financial plans and managing investments. I draw from personal as well as academic and professional experiences to form a comprehensive approach. Whether reading this to understand how an advisor can help or you want to use my recipe to manage your own wealth, this book will provide insight into making the most of your financial well being. My step-by-step approach serves as a guide that will close many common gaps that investors encounter. The objective is to make the process timeless. We will first begin by understanding where I came from and how my thoughts were formed over the years. This will lead into the practical applications for managing wealth, from getting started with investment selection, to ongoing monitoring. I believe strongly in education, process, and ethics; this book serves as my platform to document and share my method.

Joseph Curran is a seasoned financial planner and portfolio manager who has been in the investment management industry since 1998.Building on his experience working for major Wall Street firms such as Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch, Joe develops customized investment strategies for both families and institutions.Joe graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut and subsequently earned a master's degree in Financial Economics from Trinity College.His professional designations include his Certified Financial Planner (CFP)(TM) certification; Certified Portfolio Manager credential (CPM); and Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM professional designation.A Connecticut native originally from West Hartford, Joe currently resides with his wife and two children in the bucolic town of Simsbury.