Bernard Oostra:  

Hey everyone, In case you were wondering: after High School I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do, so my Dad gave me 3 options and told me I HAD to pick one and they were; 1) Go to college but I had to pay for it myself, if I did I could stay with my folks for free. 2) (his favorite) Go in to the Military and I almost did! I was a hair away from going into the Nuclear program but I hated to be told what to do, LOL. and 3) Go get a trade and thats what I did initially. My Uncle was with Nielsen Construction some of you may recognize the name. He got me into the Union and I entered the Apprenticeship program for Carpentry, best decision I could have made. It taught me a lot! Great training and they gave College credits then, it was a four year program which I completed in only two years (I set a record) I worked as a Carpenter during the day and went to trade school at night. After that I got bored and started attending College courses at Grossmont College all the while working full time. I got interested in Finance during this time and met my wife to be as well. I worked my way from a green apprentice to Foreman during those Five years in construction I got Married in 1987 and then Left Construction because I found an interest in Finance and Investments and I became an Investment Management Consultant (Stockbroker) in 1988 (we had our 1st son this year, and in 1989 we had and lost our 2nd son when he was just 3 weeks old) I worked my way up from a small American Exchange Member firm to a few of the National Wire Houses; I worked for Smith Barney Shearson at the time, (we had our next two sons during this time 1990 and 1993) Prud...Expand for more