Mark has been writing the financial news column for the Scotts Valley Press-Banner for 6+ years. He was born in San Francisco but his family moved shortly after to Campbell where he grew up. He moved to Capitola in 1990 and to ScottsValley in 1997. He has a long Santa CruzCounty history.
As a boy he worked in his father’s grocery store and was paid union wages like the rest of the employees. Perhaps unlike the rest of the employees, Mark saved most of his money. At age 18 his father helped him open an investment account which started his interest in investing.
After graduating from San Jose StateUniversity with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, he worked in Southern California covering sports at the Pasadena Star News, San Luis Obispo Telegram Tribune and the Long Beach Press Telegram.
Then in 1982 he decided to make a career change and took a job with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He was trained in their financial education program which included a month in New York City.
Working as a broker in their Torrance office, Mark said there were some heady times during the 80’s with people lining up at the door to open accounts. But being in the very competitive business where he only took seven days off in seven years was not the way he envisioned the rest of his life.
He came back to Santa Cruz County in 1990 and worked as a night editor at the San Jose Mercury News until he got back into the finance field. He has been with Financial West Group since 1996 and has enjoyed working as an independent agent and raising his family here in ScottsValley.
He and his wife have two sons – one a senior and the other a freshman in Scotts Valley High School. Both he and his wife have both volunteered at many school events; Mark being basketball coach for two years and assistant Little League coach helping coach Little League, Recreational (Rec.) basketball and track.
Mark’s philosophy on helping his clients starts with The Golden Rule – he treats others the way he would like to be treated. He can help with financial planning, retirement planning, college savings, annuities, and life insurance products. Financial West Group is the broker/dealer while the client accounts are held by the National Financial Services Clearinghouse, a part of Fidelity.
Since Mark’s Friday, December 11, 2015 article in the Press-Banner, the bond market has changed making bond purchases less attractive. For further information on this topic, other financial questions, or for a free consultation, contact Mark at 831.439.9910 or [email protected].
