I write this to ask for your help. I find myself surprised to be in this situation and taking such an unusual course, but here’s hope in trying something out of the ordinary.
I am one of the many people here in the US who had their lives pretty well upended by Covid.
Prior to Covid I worked for a number of years as an investment specialist in what are called Direct Participation Programs, loosely called ‘alternative investments’ or the buzz word today is private equity. I carried the Series 7 and 63 licenses. I did reasonably well and ended up putting most of my earnings into different real estate projects. Covid and it’s economic consequences made a mess of all this and nearly all of the placed funds were lost.
I found myself in a place needing unexpected and quick income. My licenses had expired during Covid as the Broker Dealer I previously worked for wound down and the principals retired. I ended up, humorously, beginning work driving for Uber. I’ve done that now for about a year and a half now. While over qualified for the work I haven’t minded doing it and don’t feel ashamed. It has kept the bills paid and I’ve met remarkable people including a concert violinist who had a half a million dollar violin made in 1710 by one of Stradavarius’s students (I had the violin in my car and got to touch it) to the former COO of one of Elon Musk’s current companies. I also got to help many physically limited people get to and from their various places. It’s been a learning and humbling experience and a good one. However, Uber does not pay a great deal, roughly 50-70% of the fee goes to Uber, and to make my monthly nut the hours are long and grueling. I typically start, living in the Los Angeles area, at 3:00 AM and finish around 11:00 AM and then I do an afternoon shift typically from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. And I do that everyday, not just Monday to Friday. If they allowed me to drive more per day I probably would.
I decided to work on getting my licenses back and get back into investment work. I began this about 8 months ago and started looking for a new Broker Dealer. An excellent and established firm in Chicago agreed to onboard me. I retested all needed licenses including the 63, SIE and series 7 in less than 5 months, quite an accomplishment. I was taking 10 and 15 question quizzes while waiting for pickups. Anything to work in the needed study time.
However, the problem I now have is I need time to work on contacting all my old investors and rebuild my book of business. I cannot talk to these people while I am driving. It’s a funny notion to consider.
To free up the remainder of November and all of December and January I would need about $10,000. That would allow me to spend a good two and a half months working back. The programs I’d work on include green energy, tax benefitted investments and much in real estate. I know I can make this work if I have the time.
I know what you are thinking, borrow from family or friends. My family is small and presently no one is in a position to make that kind of a loan. Similarly for my group of friends, either they are unable to do it or our relationship isn’t of the kind where I’d ask to borrow such sums of money. I thought to go to some past investors but I don’t think that’s a great idea. So this comes back to the hope that maybe I can get enough people on here to help me out. Every $200 buys me a free day.
So I ask, can you help me? Help get me restarted and help get me out of this car! I hope this missive finds you well and I thank you for reading it, whether you contribute or not. I hope you are having a fine winter day.
PJ
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