Why FSU?

It could not have worked out more fortuitously for me that FSU offers a Juris Masters Program in Financial Regulation and Compliance. As I have over 25 years in the financial industry, having the opportunity to earn a Juris Masters in this field will allow me to move the needle and open doors to areas where I can leverage my education and experience to make the biggest impact in my career.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I just graduated in summer 2022, so it seemed like the thing to do was to keep the ball rolling and go right into pursuing the graduate degree, since all of my support structures were still in place, like my job, and most importantly, my wife and kids. We all agreed it was important to capitalize on my success to date and that by pushing for a little bit longer, it was another win to pick up.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Fraud, corruption, terrorist financing, elder abuse: these are all areas of risk that the financial industry is facing, and having educated people who understand what's happening on these fronts is proving to be more important than ever. I consider myself both an advocate for our clients and a defender of my firm, and I want to be armed with all of the tools and knowledge I can get my hands on to do the best job I possibly can keeping these bad actors at bay.

Describe an aspect of your military service that is especially memorable or exceptional

I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have been able fly as an aircrewmen onboard RU-21A and RC-12G Special Electronic Mission Aircraft. In particular, my unit would often deploy to Key West to conduct intelligence gathering missions off the coast of Cuba, while the Soviet Brigade conducted live fire training. The fact that I am of Cuban heritage and found myself on the front lines in the late stages of the Cold War is something I'm very proud of to this day.

Tell us how your military service provided skills and experiences that you were able to apply to your graduate studies.

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the Defense Language Institute (DLI) at the Presidio of Monterey, California, to learn the language of my parents, Spanish. (We grew up never speaking it at home--long story :) ) I think my mindset expanded quite a bit when I was at DLI because I was able to finally allow myself to be ok with being successful in an academic setting and to admit to myself that I was good enough and that I could do anything I put my mind to do. I could finally see that there was a direct correlation between putting in the work and having success.

Career aspirations

I want to be considered so valuable an employee that I'm virtually recession proof. I am in a stage of my life, with a house and a wife and kids, when stability and a steady income is so very important; however, I'm not entirely risk averse, and so being ready to go for that next great opportunity is important, too, and I strongly believe that having the Juris Masters will help me get there.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Personally, I don't want to leave any opportunity on the table or be passed over for one because I wasn't as competitive a candidate as I could have been. The solution therefore is to pick up every license, certificate, experience, and degree you can when life presents you the opportunity to do so. If you are considering going to graduate school, pull the trigger; it's important that if you're in a position to do it, you owe it to yourself, and your future self, to be the best version of yourself you can be.

Accomplishments during graduate career

While continuously pursuing my bachelors degree, I also managed to get my FINRA Series 9 and 10 Licenses and be there for the birth of my second child. I am early in the process working toward my graduate degree, but I have no doubt given my past that I'll be able to pick up additional accomplishments while also working, balancing home life, and studying for the JM.