Entertainment Business Finance

Paul Travis

Month four went into a subject I was very intimidated by, but knew was extremely important for both personal and professional success.  The course was Entertainment Business Finance.  This was the first class where our Leadership Portfolio required us to go out and interview a professional in the financial field.  Upon a visit back home to Boston, I interviewed a man my father knew quite well.  His name is Paul Travis and he is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).  My interview with Paul was extremely informative and surprisingly gave me a greater appreciation for my father’s financial intelligence as Paul explained some of my dad’s dealings with him.  Though Paul only deals with clients with a certain level of money, he gave me some great financial advice as a struggling college student and left an open door for me to contact him whenever I need free of charge.

Though I was not able to enhance my weaknesses through this particular Leadership Portfolio, Paul commended me on my strengths of attitude, my vision for future financial plans, and my effectiveness in holding an intelligent conversation with a financial professional, which is a topic I am not an expert on by any means.  I was a little intimidated by meeting a financial professional at the beginning, but quickly realized based on his reactions that I probably knew more on the subject than many of the people who walk through his door on a daily basis.  In other words, I often fill my head with thoughts of doubt and fears of failure.  However, if you just go out and make that intimidating contact, ask the question you thought was stupid, and put yourself on the line once in a while on a topic you’re not an expert on, people will respect you more for your interest in the subject and your respect of their intelligence.  It’s a great feeling knowing that although I may not be a financial professional, I do have people in my corner who are professionals and are willing to help me out when I have questions or need advice on that subject.