Joe Boyd

I was made in Korea, grew up in Clarence, NY, graduated from RIT with a degree in Chemistry, and now live in Victor, NY, with the family of my dreams. Every day, I get the opportunity to add value by leveraging my critical thinking skills to analyze my clients' diverse financial lives and make recommendations tailored to their priorities and objectives.

1.  How do you use Applied Critical Thinking in your professional practice, teaching, or research, and what are your favorite resources?

I use Applied Critical Thinking to analyze all financial information for clients. I strive to understand their unique relationship with money and to provide personalized recommendations to help them reach their goals. Often, recognizing the emotional impact of finances on behavior helps me communicate recommendations, so they can make the best choices for themselves.

2. Why do you think Applied Critical Thinking is important in your domain or role?

Applied Critical Thinking helps me understand the "why" behind people's behaviors and priorities. It also allows me to identify which financial strategies fit their situation and work toward their unique goals.

3. Can you share a story where quality Applied Critical Thinking was key to your success?

At the beginning of my career as a Financial Advisor, I was reluctant to share that I had a Chemistry degree. However, when prospective clients asked, I found they appreciated the analytical and critical thinking skills I brought from Chemistry and Engineering. In competitive situations, I often won the Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, and Professors. They have significantly contributed to my professional success.

4. How do you use Applied Critical Thinking in other areas of your life outside of your profession?

Whenever one of my kids asks me a question, I try to respond by asking them, "What do you think?" I hope to teach them to think through a question or problem using Applied Critical Thinking throughout their personal and professional lives. If anyone has ever been to our house for Sunday breakfast of homemade Belgian Waffles and bacon, before anyone can eat bacon, we need to analyze how many pieces of bacon each person can get (in fractions and decimals)!

5. Any last critical thoughts you wish to share?

The problem-solving skills that result from Applied Critical Thinking will allow you to distinguish yourself from your peers. At the end of the day, those who understand how to leverage Applied Critical Thinking are the leaders of today and will become the leaders of tomorrow.