ii • MARTIN H. RUBY
I’m here to tell you: Your IRA is full of risks. In fact, saving for the future is one of the most significant financial risks most of us take in our lifetime. So it makes sense to have an actuary like me to guide you through these risks. The problem is, most actuaries work for large financial and in- surance companies, where they sit in a tall corporate tower, far away from consumers like you. Most actuaries spend their careers helping institutions, not individuals. I’m here to change that. Putting Actuarial Expertise on Your Side Why am I so passionate about bringing actuarial expertise to savers? In 2000, over a cup of coffee, one of my closest friends asked me a question that would change my career. Until then, I had always worked on the side of institutions: I led product development, created a retail annuity business, and over- saw technology platforms for various insurance carriers. I had even served as CEO of an insurance and annuity company. But I had never served individual savers. None of the actuaries I knew did. My friend needed help, so he asked, “Do people like you ever help people like me plan for retirement?” It was an intriguing question. And, as I thought about it, I couldn’t believe the answer was “No.” I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak; I love trying things no one has tried before. I realized I could use my actuarial exper- tise to help individuals instead of corporations. It became my mission and my passion. In 2001, I founded Stonewood Financial with the goal of bring- ing actuarial expertise to everyday savers. While I love helping
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