My story

When I was in the fourth grade, Fridays were my favorite day of the week. While like most kids I was looking forward to the upcoming weekend, I was most excited for the lessons about the stock market I would get that day in my math class. I don't know why, but ever since I was first introduced to the stock market, I was hooked! Although I was only 9 at the time, I was able to realize the immense wealth generating power of the stock market.

After learning that the stock market exists, I was consumed to learn everything about the stock market including what the greats, the legends like Warren Buffet and Peter Lynch, had already learned and written about. After some time of playing fantasy investing games and reading every book on investing in the library, I felt I was ready to take on the world of Wall Street.

Pursuing my passion in investing, the first stock I ever bought was Vermont Teddy Bear (BEAR). Their business model was to charge a hefty premium for making customized teddy bears that were the perfect gift for any special occasion: a birthday, an anniversary, Mother's day, or Valentine 's Day. The business model and product were something simple, something I could relate to. Because of this, I invested in this stock instead of one of the high-flying Internet stocks. Potentially missing out on higher profits and returns, I choose Vermont Teddy Bear because it is better to invest in something you understand and know is a good value than something you hope goes up because all the experts are telling you so.

Naturally, my interest with the stock market became a fascination, and I continued to enjoy success investing. So when I transferred from my old school (which went from Kindergarten to 8 th grade) to go to a new high school, I was shocked to find that none of my friends or classmates knew or cared about investing. Determined to share my passion and interest with my friends, I started the Finance and Economics Club at my high school. It was during this process that I realized this phenomenon was not limited to my high school. High schools across the countries failed to teach kids about investing and basic money management skills leaving America 's youth financially vulnerable to credit card debt and other personal finance missteps later on in life. Although young at the age of 14, I felt uniquely positioned to relate to my classmates. Most other finance books written by adults can be preachy and are therefore ignored. Since I was growing up with my generation, I could best understand how to strike the balance between saving and spending, and get my friends to follow the tenants of investing that have made so many people rich before me. I took the opportunity to start writing my book, The Young Investor's Guide to Retiring Young , which was eventually published my Freshman year at Stanford.

While at Stanford, I joined Stanford Consulting where I was an Associate. I was also Director and President of the Charles R. Blyth Fund, a student run investment group that manages money as part of the endowment at Stanford.  I graduated from Stanford University with my degree in Economics.

If you wish to contact me, please email me at monte@younginvestorsguide.com .