Who I Am

Hey there, and welcome to Cash Snacks! My goal is to empower you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence that you need to attain your version of financial freedom.

By day, I’m a Wall Street professional in my mid-twenties. By night, I’m a personal finance junkie. Let me also make it abundantly clear that I’m not a certified financial advisor or planner. My career focuses on financial analysis and investing at the corporate level. Personal finance is just a passion of mine.

Now, before you dismiss me as another privileged guy on Wall Street who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, let me give you a little more context.

My Early Years

Looking up underneath a palm tree on a sunny day to symbolize my upbringing in Florida
I grew up in sun-soaked Florida, surrounded by palm trees and beaches. Despite the beautiful setting, life still presented me with a unique set of challenges that continue to inspire me today.

Nothing was ever handed to me. I grew up in a hardworking, middle-class family in Florida. While we never struggled for essentials like food or shelter, money was always a hot-button issue in our household. In fact, when my parents divorced around the time I was ten, one of the key factors that drove them apart was the constant tension and conflicts that stemmed from financial disagreements.

Later, I watched my single mother scrap and sacrifice to provide for my family through lean times and a stint on unemployment. We were even forced to sell our house through a “short sale” to avoid foreclosure. Ironically, I now view real estate investing as one of the most powerful tools available for young professionals looking to dramatically accelerate wealth creation.

My Personal Finance Wake Up

In the back of my mind, I always felt like there had to be a better way to approach money and building wealth. I didn’t realize it at the time, but these trying experiences started to shape my perception of money in a unique way.

Money morphed into a tool that I could use to create security, flexibility, and freedom. I devoured every personal finance book that I could get my hands on. I discovered some transformational finance blogs like Financial Samurai, Get Rich Slowly, I Will Teach You to Be Rich and Mr. Money Mustache. I was suddenly determined to optimize my financial future. Naturally, I invested in my first stock during the eighth grade and even put a share of Apple on my Christmas Wish List. These days, I’m a staunch proponent of passive investing in low cost index funds, but hey, we all start somewhere.

A picture that shows me chasing the quarterback during a high school football game. Many of the lessons that I learned back then continue to apply indirectly to my personal finance decisions.
An action shot from my high school football days. I approach my personal finances with the same type of discipline that I learned on that field.

I worked tirelessly in school as I recognized scholastic discipline and achievement represented the keys to my future. In high school, I tried to involve myself in everything. I took a rigorous course load, played football, and pursued leadership positions in any club that would have me.

All this to boost my college candidacy. The dedication paid off, as I was admitted into a well-regarded undergraduate business school with a compelling scholarship package. Between assistance from my parents, student loans, and these scholarships, I was lucky enough to graduate with a degree that opened many doors. I credit much of my success to the program’s job-specific training and robust alumni network. These factors, along with some old-fashioned grit and good luck paved my way to Wall Street after graduation…silver spoon optional.

Creating Cash Snacks

It took starting my first job to realize the power of the personal finance knowledge I had accumulated growing up. I also continued to cultivate this knowledge base every day. Aided by millennial personal finance content creators such as Robert Leonard, Scott Trench, and Grant Sabatier, my self-education compounded exponentially.

Friends and family suddenly viewed me as credible resource in relation to their financial goals and questions. Many of my peers reached out as they began to earn a steady income for the first time. Typical questions included:

After fielding enough of the same questions, I had a breakthrough in my office cubicle late one night. I decided to memorialize my financial research, education, and lessons learned from personal mistakes into one comprehensive platform. Not only would this save me time (and sleep!), but I realized I had an opportunity to positively impact a broader group. With that, Cash Snacks was born.

Cash Snacks came to fruition one particularly late night at my office cubicle.

Reasons to Read Cash Snacks

I think we take personal finance too personally. It’s far too emotional and stigmatized. Unfortunately, this often clouds our ability to exercise sound judgement.

I’m motivated to harness the power of my Wall Street experience and obsession with personal finance to help you win. I’m here to cut through the endless noise and hidden agendas that permeate this industry. Cash Snacks represents a culmination of the years that I spent teaching myself and experimenting with my own finances to figure out what works.

I recognize that writing about such an important subject comes with great responsibility. Rest assured, this isn’t something I take lightly. My pledge is to post only about topics that I believe will radically improve your financial life!

Stick around if:

  • You want practical and actionable financial insight, chopped up into “bite-sized” pieces that you can actually use
  • You’re seeking unbiased content from an author who’s wise enough to know that he doesn’t have all the answers
  • You want proven strategies that will allow you to thrive at any stage of your financial journey
  • You hope to spend less time worrying about your money so you can spend more time doing what you love

Whether you’re struggling to pay rent or you make too much to qualify for a Roth IRA…relax. I got you! There’s something here for folks at all levels of the financial game.

Reasons NOT to Read Cash Snacks

Now, let’s have a little fun and discuss the key reasons that you should not read my content.

But Max, you’re probably thinking, aren’t you trying to help as many people as possible? Why would you limit your audience by giving people reasons to ignore you?

You’re mostly right. I do want to help as many people as possible achieve their financial goals. However, it won’t happen. I can only help those that are ready, willing, and maybe even a little excited, to take charge and commit.

Please look elsewhere if:

  • You want to retire at 22 and speed off into the sunset in your limited edition Lamborghini Veneno
  • You’re looking to “Get rich quick with these 3 simple steps…”
  • You will only listen to a “guru” or “master” (I’m most definitely neither!)
  • You want some slick sales pitch from a large corporation

Remember, it’s not about what sounds sexy. It’s about what works.

Why this all Matters

The bottom line is that I’m much like you. I’m still in the trenches, striving by your side, chasing my wildly ambitious goals. We are one in the same at a fundamental level.

We may face different circumstances or challenges or crises. But let’s focus on how we can adapt and overcome, together.

Keep in mind, money is not the goal. It’s a tool. A means to an end. It may buy you time, freedom, influence or even a friendship, but only you can allow it to create happiness.

Made it through my colossal rant? First of all, thank you! Looks like you’re committed to building a smarter financial future.

I started this project with the dream of changing just one reader’s financial life for the better. It is my sincere hope that it will be you. Let’s get after it!