About the Editor

At the Compo Beach Office

It was 1983 when I left an upper east side 5th floor walkup and a job at the Metropolitan Museum bookshop to move to San Francisco to see what I could be. Not quite. I had no contacts, no place to live, no job, just $2,000 in traveler's checks. I had toured the west coast with a friend, so my plan was to take People's Express to SFO, find an apartment, get a job at the DeYoung Museum, and boom - done, new life. But, as you might have guessed, things didn't go as planned. After an early dawn Super Shuttle ride from SFO, I arrived at Union Square, stashed my duffle bag in a locker, and set off to find an apartment. To put it mildly, it didn't go well. I ended up staying at the YMCA for a couple of months, eating Arby's, walking the city, and looking at want ads for jobs. After talking with a temp agency, not expecting to be placed, I received a call needing me there before dawn, which gave me afternoons free. I took the position, which paid very well for this kid from Brooklyn.

Over the years, I shifted from the trading floor to the tech side, moving from executing trades to designing the systems traders used. Starting in the chaotic, manual world of trading, I transitioned into working with programmers to enhance market visibility and efficiency for both traders and management. My role involved translating the complexities of trading workflows into tech solutions, ensuring that software development was aligned with real-world trading needs. This work was pivotal in developing tools like free-format trade entries, graphical sector profit-loss displays, and detailed account penetration reports, which not only improved efficiency but also provided a competitive edge in the market.

As technology evolved, so did my role. The rise of trading algorithms and faster communication systems meant that the traditional methods of market interaction via phone calls or physical trading floors became obsolete. Regulatory changes further streamlined the process, reducing human involvement but enhancing precision and control over market activities.

Leaving the sell-side, where I dealt with market makers and institutional traders, I moved to the buy-side, working with high-net-worth individuals, hedge funds, and asset managers. Here, I applied my deep market experience to help develop technology solutions that catered to the nuanced needs of these clients. An engineer once noted that my value lay in my trader's mindset rather than in coding, highlighting the unique perspective I brought to technology development in finance.

Now, closer to the end of my career than the beginning, I reflect on these experiences to share insights and knowledge through this site. The investment world continues to evolve, with technology playing an increasingly central role in navigating market complexities and curbing the excesses driven by greed. This platform will serve as a repository of my professional journey, aiming to assist those who seek to understand or navigate this intricate landscape.

I’ve become passionate about the innovative world of AI, particularly its potential to democratize knowledge and expertise. That's why I created “ExpertMeAI”, a platform that uses AI avatars to deliver personalized educational and consulting services. ExpertMeAI leverages a proven method for collecting an individual's knowledge and transforming it into an interactive AI avatar. These avatars become the primary source of information, allowing users to access personalized guidance and learning experiences. ExpertMeAI offers a range of products and services, including on-demand consultations, educational short videos for platforms like YouTube and TikTok, comprehensive online courses, and specialized technology consulting. I believe that ExpertMeAI has the power to revolutionize how we learn and share expertise. By harnessing the capabilities of AI, we can make expert knowledge accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere. You can find more of my content on platforms like X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The harder I work, the luckier I get.

Do only good everyday!

Chandler



At the Compo Beach Office