Who is LQQKER ?
Hello. I'm LQQKER, founder of LQQKER INSIDER.
My interest in investing began about the time I graduated high school, when I was (finally) forced to get serious about my life. Up until this point, I'd never even fathomed going to college. In my youth it was all about sports, crawdad fishing, and collecting cards. As I got a little older, it was all about hanging with my friends, going to the mall, and girls. I never bothered taking the SAT or ACT either as I didn't want to embarrass myself. I had zero interest in academics. In fact, I hated school. I hated all the grades with the exception of kindergarten and my 2nd senior year in high school. Yup, I failed 12th grade... and I also failed 6th and 9th grade. While I went to summer school to advance from 6th and 9th grades, I chose to repeat 12th grade despite only needing one elective credit to graduate. Why? Because it would buy me more time.
For me, I still consider repeating my senior year in high school to be one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I was terrified of what lied ahead and this was going to buy me more time to self-evaluate and try to figure things out. They say fear is a great motivator and, in my case, this was no exception. All I knew was that I did not want to become an alcoholic like my dad, and did not want to spend my life on an assembly line like my dad. It was an honorable job, but it's not what I wanted for me. Upon finally graduating, I went off to a month-long summer camp with a wonderful youth group I had been associated with my last few years of high school: Young Life. Upon my return, I took all the liquor I'd been storing for the next party I'd planned to host and took it to my Young Life leaders house... and poured it down his sink. Because I had come to realize that turning everything over to God was the only chance I had.
Only weeks later, with the assistance of my Young Life leader who drove me, I enrolled in junior college. It would take me two years just to get up to college level courses. I also joined the Reserves. I also worked... retail, gas stations, waiting tables. I even gave up sex, cursing, and drinking for three years (now doing all three in moderation). I was focused like a laser beam. I had to be. It was the only chance I had.
One of those jobs I took was for Best Buy (BBY), around the year 1992. They were moving into the DFW Metroplex and were hiring for six stores they planed to open up all on the same day, stores 50-56. They were hosting their training at a hotel in Irving TX where I met their Founder and CEO, Dick Schulze. I also met their CFO (name forgotten), whom I asked "Do you think I should buy your stock?" He told me that he couldn't provide me any information that wasn't public, but did state that he thought the stock was undervalued. At the time, the stock was trading at 4.75, having had a 52-wk range between $4.25 and $17, or thereabouts. At the time I had $10,000 I'd saved up and was looking to invest. Returning home, I told my brother about my conversation with the CFO and he then bought some shares. Three weeks later I remember him telling/bragging to me how he had already sold his BBY stock and made like 15% and how much this equaled on an annualized basis. Me, I did even worse... because I chose to wait for an even better entry. It never came. The following year BBY would be the largest gainer on the NYSE, up 400%. Fast forward another 7 years and my $10,000 investment, had I made it, would have been worth over $4,000,000.
After a total of six years in college, I finally had my business degree. I even graduated in the top quarter of my class! Not bad for a kid that was taking both 9th grade algebra and 10th grade geometry in 12th grade. I had finally made it! My fears overcome. My faith solidified. Throughout my years in college, I continued to dabble in stocks. I was also cutting my teeth (and testing my investment savvy) by competing in collegiate investment challenges whenever they'd roll around. I'd also fall in love with a book other than my bible... Peter Lynch's "One Up On Wall Street". The thought of finding more undiscovered gems, just as I had done with Best Buy, was both intoxicating and exciting. Also during this time period, I'd secure an internship at Merrill Lynch. From all these experiences, I knew I wanted to eventually make a living at it.
Upon graduation from college, I was hired by a major private brokerage firm. I spent about three years there, the first under an apprenticeship. Things were humming right along. I obtained both my Series 7 NYSE license and Series 63 licenses and was building up a great rapport with my mentor. So much so, that he was letting me run his office and was wanting me to locate my own office in the county next to him. After being granted permission to do so, I blinked. While I was loving the small-town life, in the waning minutes I decided to locate to a large metro market instead... in order to be closer to the place I'd always known as home. Big Mistake! Instead of being the "King of the Hill" (in a small county awash with oil money and peanut farmers) I was now surrounded by competition, and particularly from within my own firm. Imagine the elation (sarcasm) I felt meeting people for the first time who'd reveal to me they were already getting mail from two other brokers within my own firm. I had been a marketing major in college and now I was being punished for violating its number one principle: Location!, Location!, Location! What was I thinking? Two years later, with my paycheck based 100% on commission, I threw in the towel.
Today I have a six figure salary and a professional job in the transportation industry. While I occasionally miss sales and meeting new people, I'm not sure I'd ever go back. Suits, ties, long hours, and putting a razor to my face daily... not exactly my idea of a dream job. Thankfully though, due to the internet and technology, it's a whole new world out there! Now I can have my professional job and consult on the side. Additionally, instead of being pushed to sell blue chips, mutual funds, bonds, or insurance products (which all have their respectful places), I now have true freedom. The freedom to offer financial advice and recommend any number of securities... all for a simple flat fee.
My interest in investing began about the time I graduated high school, when I was (finally) forced to get serious about my life. Up until this point, I'd never even fathomed going to college. In my youth it was all about sports, crawdad fishing, and collecting cards. As I got a little older, it was all about hanging with my friends, going to the mall, and girls. I never bothered taking the SAT or ACT either as I didn't want to embarrass myself. I had zero interest in academics. In fact, I hated school. I hated all the grades with the exception of kindergarten and my 2nd senior year in high school. Yup, I failed 12th grade... and I also failed 6th and 9th grade. While I went to summer school to advance from 6th and 9th grades, I chose to repeat 12th grade despite only needing one elective credit to graduate. Why? Because it would buy me more time.
For me, I still consider repeating my senior year in high school to be one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I was terrified of what lied ahead and this was going to buy me more time to self-evaluate and try to figure things out. They say fear is a great motivator and, in my case, this was no exception. All I knew was that I did not want to become an alcoholic like my dad, and did not want to spend my life on an assembly line like my dad. It was an honorable job, but it's not what I wanted for me. Upon finally graduating, I went off to a month-long summer camp with a wonderful youth group I had been associated with my last few years of high school: Young Life. Upon my return, I took all the liquor I'd been storing for the next party I'd planned to host and took it to my Young Life leaders house... and poured it down his sink. Because I had come to realize that turning everything over to God was the only chance I had.
Only weeks later, with the assistance of my Young Life leader who drove me, I enrolled in junior college. It would take me two years just to get up to college level courses. I also joined the Reserves. I also worked... retail, gas stations, waiting tables. I even gave up sex, cursing, and drinking for three years (now doing all three in moderation). I was focused like a laser beam. I had to be. It was the only chance I had.
One of those jobs I took was for Best Buy (BBY), around the year 1992. They were moving into the DFW Metroplex and were hiring for six stores they planed to open up all on the same day, stores 50-56. They were hosting their training at a hotel in Irving TX where I met their Founder and CEO, Dick Schulze. I also met their CFO (name forgotten), whom I asked "Do you think I should buy your stock?" He told me that he couldn't provide me any information that wasn't public, but did state that he thought the stock was undervalued. At the time, the stock was trading at 4.75, having had a 52-wk range between $4.25 and $17, or thereabouts. At the time I had $10,000 I'd saved up and was looking to invest. Returning home, I told my brother about my conversation with the CFO and he then bought some shares. Three weeks later I remember him telling/bragging to me how he had already sold his BBY stock and made like 15% and how much this equaled on an annualized basis. Me, I did even worse... because I chose to wait for an even better entry. It never came. The following year BBY would be the largest gainer on the NYSE, up 400%. Fast forward another 7 years and my $10,000 investment, had I made it, would have been worth over $4,000,000.
After a total of six years in college, I finally had my business degree. I even graduated in the top quarter of my class! Not bad for a kid that was taking both 9th grade algebra and 10th grade geometry in 12th grade. I had finally made it! My fears overcome. My faith solidified. Throughout my years in college, I continued to dabble in stocks. I was also cutting my teeth (and testing my investment savvy) by competing in collegiate investment challenges whenever they'd roll around. I'd also fall in love with a book other than my bible... Peter Lynch's "One Up On Wall Street". The thought of finding more undiscovered gems, just as I had done with Best Buy, was both intoxicating and exciting. Also during this time period, I'd secure an internship at Merrill Lynch. From all these experiences, I knew I wanted to eventually make a living at it.
Upon graduation from college, I was hired by a major private brokerage firm. I spent about three years there, the first under an apprenticeship. Things were humming right along. I obtained both my Series 7 NYSE license and Series 63 licenses and was building up a great rapport with my mentor. So much so, that he was letting me run his office and was wanting me to locate my own office in the county next to him. After being granted permission to do so, I blinked. While I was loving the small-town life, in the waning minutes I decided to locate to a large metro market instead... in order to be closer to the place I'd always known as home. Big Mistake! Instead of being the "King of the Hill" (in a small county awash with oil money and peanut farmers) I was now surrounded by competition, and particularly from within my own firm. Imagine the elation (sarcasm) I felt meeting people for the first time who'd reveal to me they were already getting mail from two other brokers within my own firm. I had been a marketing major in college and now I was being punished for violating its number one principle: Location!, Location!, Location! What was I thinking? Two years later, with my paycheck based 100% on commission, I threw in the towel.
Today I have a six figure salary and a professional job in the transportation industry. While I occasionally miss sales and meeting new people, I'm not sure I'd ever go back. Suits, ties, long hours, and putting a razor to my face daily... not exactly my idea of a dream job. Thankfully though, due to the internet and technology, it's a whole new world out there! Now I can have my professional job and consult on the side. Additionally, instead of being pushed to sell blue chips, mutual funds, bonds, or insurance products (which all have their respectful places), I now have true freedom. The freedom to offer financial advice and recommend any number of securities... all for a simple flat fee.
My NYSE exam results:
Please note how I compared with the (lame) averages of my Wall Street peers.
...and followed by SeekingAlpha (SA) founder and CEO, Eli Hoffman:
