We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Bird and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, what are you inspired by?
In 2011 I had the opportunity to work as a personal caddy for billionaire Julian Robertson at his New Zealand golf resort called Kauri Cliffs. I asked him how I could learn more about investing. “I’ve got this friend, Warren Buffett” he replied, “he’s great – you should really read his letters.” I did and it changed my life. Mr. Buffett used the principle of compounding over 70+ years to grow an enormous fortune, of which 99% is being gifted to charities to improve the lives of those who need it most. That was inspiring to me. I realized that at age 23 I still had time on my side, and I dreamt that in some small way I could reproduce what Warren has done. Every year since I’ve chased that dream.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Farnam we serve clients who are in retirement or who are within five years of it. Our aim is to turn our client’s financial house into their financial castle. What do we mean by that? A physical castle offers protection and longevity. The portfolio and planning recommendations we offer are designed to protect our clients’ lifestyle and offer peace of mind. They’re also built to help ensure money our clients’ will last.

We do by offering three benefits: First, helping our clients earn more money. We use low-cost index funds which minimize fees. Second, minimizing taxes. We help retirees draw on their money in a way that minimizes taxes. Third, we provide peace of mind.

We bring three values to everything we do. First, integrity – we’re always honest and forthcoming. Second, reliability – we say what we’ll do, and we’ll do what we said. Third, respect – we treat every client the way we’d want to be treated if our positions were reversed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to Poor Charlie’s Almanack. This book brought me into adulthood and gave me a serious appetite for reading and life-long learning. The book has never been advertised yet continues to sell thousands of copies. It’s full of mental models useful for explaining and predicting events, hilarious cautionary tales, and worldly wisdom. I’ve read it at least five times. Thank you Charlie!

Website: www.FarnamFinancial.com

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