Jerome Brown '08 Speaks to BFI Club about Investing

On Friday, October 29, MBS alumnus Jerome Brown '08, an investment advisor with Vintage Wealth Management Group, spoke with the BFI (Business, Finance, and Investment) Club about his career path, his experiences, and why he is passionate about his profession.

Mr. Brown joined Vintage Wealth Management Group in Charlotte, North Carolina two years ago. He began his career as a Business Development Management Manager with Diversant, LLC prior to integrating into more technical areas of finance as a Trading & Client Service Representative with Ally Invest and as a Sales Specialist and Business Support Associate with Wells Fargo. Mr. Brown is a graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration/Marketing, and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing.

Mr. Brown asked the students to think about the age they would like to retire and how much money would make retirement possible. He showed the students the impressive results of investing just $40 per week assuming a 10 percent return.

He emphasized the value of being a long-term investor and said that the stock market has historically been one of the best places to invest.

“If you’re unable to hold a stock for at least 10 years, you probably shouldn’t buy it,” he said. “You need to give yourself time in the market. I tell my clients, if you can hold onto two technology companies and one index, you’ll be fine.”

Mr. Brown closed the session by recommending two books that deal with sustaining wealth over generations — The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel and Wealth in Families by Charles Collier.

He also reinforced the importance of being philanthropic with your wealth.

“At the end of the day, the greatest thing you can do is bring someone else up,” he said. “That means finding charities that mean the most to you, volunteering your time, and when you get the opportunity, you can volunteer your funds as well.”