Meet Matthew Blakey, AAMS | Financial Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Blakey, AAMS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
The Richest Man In Babylon is a book I think everyone should read. One of my biggest missions and passions is to spread financial and economic literacy to people. I have always felt there is a gap in the education system where young adults and teens of my generation did not receive the basic financial knowledge necessary to make wise decisions throughout adulthood. The Richest Man in Babylon is a relatively short and easy read that follows the story of a poor man in Ancient Babylon as he learns the principles of managing finances. Through the stories and parables presented you will get a sound understanding of basic personal finance and why it is important. The book demonstrates the lessons in an entertaining and easy to digest format, and it will get you thinking about how it relates to your life and finances. The Richest Man in Babylon is a true classic in the world of finance and could bring so much financial wisdom to students and young adults in the community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My first foray into finance was a part-time teller job at the bank, and I worked in several different positions from there. At the bank I learned mountains of information about banking and finance, along with progressing my formal education, which combined to push my career forward. Eventually I was working directly with my own clients that I got to maintain relationships with. After 6 years of learning and growing at the bank I moved to an Investment company where I also consult with clients everyday to help them reach their financial goals. It’s amazing to see personal finance in practice across such a vast array of people! College Students to retirees, employees to business owners, and everything in between. Some wealthy beyond belief, some struggling to make ends meet. Throughout all of that you find that finance is deeply personal, and that everyone views and handles their finances differently. It has been rewarding to deliver knowledge and understanding to help set people up for success financially. The most challenging parts were twofold: The exams for investments can be very demanding, and it was hard to train myself to see finance as personal and behavioral when we’re trained to see it as numbers and formulas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Having dinner at Mastro’s City Hall in Old Town Scottsdale sitting in the bar area with the live band cant be beat. It’s top notch food, great people watching and a vibrant atmosphere, with a bit of luck you might see a celebrity too. Next door at Fashion Square is the best shopping in town where you can find all your favorite brands. Something I like to do is go up to Cave Creek, its a short but pleasant drive up there and there’s normally vibrant night life. In the old western bars there you will find karaoke, bull riding and dancing lessons which can provide for a fun filled night. I love to go to rock concerts and luckily between the many great venues like The Van Buren and The Marquee, there are normally concerts-a-plenty. One of my favorite places to unwind and enjoy a cocktail in the evening is A Different Pointe of View at the Hilton on North Mountain. You can really see the whole valley from up there and the view is just beautiful around sunset. If you’re into cigars like I am, you have to make a stop at Fox Cigar bar in Scottsdale. Finally, you’d be hard pressed to find a better cup of coffee and more vibrant scene than Lux Coffee near downtown. Whether it’s for breakfast or dinner, evening drinks or a study session, I often find myself at Lux.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Depending on what you want to do in the financial industry, there are numerous exams, licenses, and certifications you could need. This can result in relentless cycles of studying, reading, and practice tests, which can really take its toll over time. So I have to give a Shoutout to my family and my very supportive girlfriend who kept me sane throughout the rigorous and daunting exams. Also, I have to say thank you to many of my friends in the industry who spent countless nights with me studying at local coffee shops. It really helps to have friends in the same boat and to be working towards goals together! Finally, I have to give a Shoutout to PVCC. I didn’t know I specifically wanted to pursue finance going into college, but I had some great economics and business teachers early on, who really made me love those subjects and inspired me to pursue them further, which played a big role in the path I decided to take!

Instagram: @thedashingmillennial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-blakey-aams%C2%AE-73580297/

Image Credits
Jillian Rivera Photography @JillianRiveraPhotography