Deerfield resident provides ‘Peace of Mind Investing’
BY HANNAH KOHUT | hkohut@pioneerlocal.com
November 12, 2012 7:44AM
Deerfield resident Larry Stein recently wrote and published a book about financial planning, titled "Peace of Mind Investing." | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 9, 2012 6:07AM
DEERFIELD — After helping clients with investments for more than three decades, Deerfield resident Larry Stein believes he knows a thing or two about planning for the future.
So, he wrote a book about it.
Stein explained that his book, “Peace of Mind Investing,” is aimed at those planning to retire in the next five to 15 years. The book, published in July, has earned a five-star customer review on Amazon.com.
Stein, who also built the Deerfield-based Disciplined Investment Management firm, said his life’s passion has been helping people retire in peace.
“In my work as an investment advisor for high net worth clients, I come across portfolios that are the result of either bad advice or commission-driven greed,” Stein said. “It angers me to see these injustices...”
Q: What inspired you to write your book?
A: 1) To give retirees and those planning to retire an effective, low-cost and risk-managed investment strategy they can execute easily to gain peace of mind; and 2) to dispel commonly held myths and misconceptions that can reduce investor returns and lead to poor decisions.
Q: What got you interested in investing?
A: My father would always read the stock market tables at night, and I would drive him crazy with questions. I must have read nearly every stock market book in the Highland Park library during my junior high and high school years.
Q: What are your future career goals?
A: I’m doing it right now. I’ve created a book and an investment firm that express my personal goal of helping people gain peace of mind through disciplined investing. New clients often come to us because they’ve become tired of high-cost products and high-pressure salespeople. We don’t sell products and we don’t accept outside commissions. We don’t try to beat the market; that can lead to bad decisions.
Q: What is your proudest moment or greatest achievement?
A: Personally, my family is my pride and joy. From a business standpoint, I am very proud of the way we run Disciplined Investment Management. We’re on the same side of the table as our clients, which enables us to enjoy long-lasting and gratifying relationships with them.
Q: Why should people invest?
A: If you don’t invest, you’re unlikely to have enough funds to retire comfortably. Some retirees make the mistake of investing only in bonds. Unfortunately, that can be a recipe for disaster, especially in these times of low interest rates. We advocate a dynamic mix of equities to give our clients peace of mind.
Q: How long have you been working with investments? Where did you go to college?
A: I’ve been investing since I was 13, and have been in the financial services field for over 30 years. I graduated from the University of Illinois in accounting, and then got my CPA and a Master’s in Taxation.
ABOUT YOU...
Q: What drew you to Deerfield?
A: We’ve lived here for 23 years. Our friends and the great schools drew us here.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I grew up in Highland Park and now live in Deerfield.
Q: Married? Kids?
A: Happily married to Susan for 30 years, with two sons, Joe and Aaron.
Q: What about Deerfield makes you proud?
A: It’s a great community. I love the pools and the schools are incredible.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in town?
A: Il Forno. I love the eggplant Parmesan sandwich. Try it on garlic bread!
Q: If you were mayor for a day, what would you do?
A: Honor the high school and its teachers — what an impressive school!
SOME FUN STUFF...
Q: What are you reading?
A: God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel, an amazing book that I have read and re-read over the years.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Wag the Dog, it’s a satire on the pitfalls of politics.
Q: What is on your iPod?
A: Don’t have one, though I have an iPad which functions like a traveling office. If you’re asking about music, I stick with Simon and Garfunkel, Chicago and a handful of rock bands — not much after 1979.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Jerusalem, my son Joe lives there.
Q: Are you a summer or winter person?
A: Summer, though I love skiing, too.
Q: What is your favorite Chicago sports team?
A: That’s easy: Chicago Bears
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