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Why I Became A Financial Advisor

By John Benedict

As an undergraduate attending Oakland University, I was a pretty typical college kid. I was kicking around the idea of going to dental school, but hadn’t yet found my passion or my path in life. All I knew was that I wanted a job that could provide me with financial security and that excited me. I decided my best bet was to head to the school resource center and comb through job descriptions. I came across career info on stock brokers, and my interest was piqued. 

All of my knowledge on stock brokers at that point came from the movie Wall Street (with Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas—remember that one?). Later that week, I passed by the job bulletin board and found a job posting: “Stock Broker - needs assistant.” The job was 40 miles from my house, but that didn’t deter me. I ripped down the listing so nobody else could pursue it. My interview went well, but it took me a few weeks to hear back. When the stock broker finally called me to offer the position, he stated how strange it was that no one else had applied. I fessed up and told him what I had done. His response was, “If you had the guts to rip down the flyer so nobody else would interview, then I know I have the right person for the job!” My career in the investment industry began right then, and I have continued to seize every opportunity to grow my experience and expertise ever since.

Starting My Career

I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in business administration and finance in 1997. I got my first job with American Express Financial Advisors in 1998 and spent the next eight years learning how to effectively help others plan for their financial future.

My Career Today

In 2007 I opened my own RIA and merged with John Salomon in 2010 to co-create J2 Capital Management. This merger gave me the opportunity to combine my talents and passion in statistics and technical analysis to create J2’s tactical strategies, which I have been managing since the beginning of the organization. Our team specializes in in-house custom financial planning, tax, estate, and investment management. We help clients plan, build wealth, and manage risk through a team of in-house fiduciary professionals serving Troy, MI, and Cape Coral, FL. 

I want to intimately understand my clients’ financial needs at a holistic level. I maintain the highest level of commitment and dedication to each client and get to know them on a personal level. I offer straightforward advice that makes a meaningful impact, and I never operate on a one-size-fits-all plan.

Why I Love What I Do

I constantly strive to be a visionary and come up with new ways of improving and managing our proprietary investment strategies. I gain immense satisfaction from being productive and helping clients realize their potential. There is no better feeling than the sense of fulfillment I get when a client reaches a goal and turns a dream into a reality. 

Are You Ready For A Different Financial Future?

Finances don’t have to be stressful, and you don’t have to go it alone. Allow us to give you the confidence of knowing someone you trust is proactively looking out for you, getting you closer to your goals, and celebrating with you as you live out your dreams. Schedule a meeting today, or shoot us an email at info@j2cmonline.com. Or feel free to give us a call at (248) 641-4444 or text us at (248) 965-0439. 

About John Benedict

John Benedict is CEO, investment advisor representative, and portfolio manager at J2 Capital Management, a boutique financial advisory firm specializing in in-house custom financial planning, tax, estate, and investment management. With over 20 years of experience, John is passionate about helping clients navigate uncertain markets, reduce risk, and plan for a sound future. John combined his talents and passion in statistics and technical analysis to create J2’s tactical strategies, managing them since the beginning of the organization. He is known for being a visionary and continually looking for ways to improve J2’s services and strategies to better serve his clients. John graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in business administration and finance, and his thoughts on markets and technical analysis have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Investment News, and on Moneyshow.com. He was also a contributor to the book The StockTwits Edge: 40 Actionable Trade Set-Ups from Real Market Pros. 

When he’s not working, you can find John boating or participating in water sports and spending time with his wife, Janine, and his three children, Jack, Alexis, and Saraphina. To learn more about John, connect with him on LinkedIn.

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