About Blain Reinkensmeyer
Posted by Blain Reinkensmeyer
September 1, 2007 at 12:01 am
My name Blain Reinkensmeyer and I am guy behind Stock Trading To Go.
Alongside this blog I run a 501c (3) non-profit organization, the Falkin Investing Organization (FIO), and have a patent pending within the
Below is the story of how I got started investing, to date the greatest lesson I have learned about money, and finally how I’ve come to dedicate my life to the pursuit of passion.
How I Got Started
I originally got started with investing when I was 15 years old. I had a lawn care business with my partner and brother Brandon, and the majority of money I saved went into mutual funds my Dad managed for me. I walked into my dad’s office one day during the 02 crash, and he sat me down to inform me of some bad news. The bad news was that I had lost over $3,000 in the stock market (over half my hard earned savings from mowing lawns), so sitting at his desk bewildered I asked, “Can I have it back?” My dad explained to me that it was gone and that I needed to take it as a lesson, because neither he nor anyone else was going to refund my money.
I had very little understanding for the market, but I didn’t really care. I walked out of my dad’s office that day making an agreement with myself which I still hold true to today. The agreement was to never let someone or some mutual fund manage my money ever again.
The Hardest Lesson of My Life
With my new found purpose, I dedicated the next year to studying stock charts by the thousands. I would some days scroll through several hundred charts studying patterns and taking notes. By 16 I was trading the remains of my savings in an Ameritrade account my dad setup for me, and at 17 my brother and I ended up selling our lawn care business. The money earned from the sale was the perfect sum to get my new found trading addiction really rolling.
At the end of 2003 I had around $20,000 to my name after business sale profits, savings, and investment earnings. This was just the start of the journey though as through 2004 I went on a ruthless success run. By the end of the 2004 year I was 18, settled into my dorm at my 1st year of college, and skipping classes constantly to trade stocks. I finished the 2004 year up just over 280%; my portfolio showed a value of just over $75,000. I figured I could become a millionaire by 21, but I soon found that God had other plans for me.
I was a big better in biotech stocks, putting all of my money into one company with the expectation for FDA results to come back positive, and when they did I would sell for a big profit. The day came that following spring though in 2005 that FDA results didn’t come back positive, and my stock sank because of it. My portfolio was as high as just above $100,000 before the hit, and afterwards I lost nearly $70,000. I couldn’t bare to sell my stock as it fell day after day, and by the time I clicked sell it was already too late. The hardest lesson I learned was the concept of the value of money in general, to never take for granted what you do have because one day it may all be gone.
The Pursuit of Passion
I finished my freshman year of college and decided to not return the following year. I knew what I loved, and knew what I wanted to dedicate my life to. Since then I co-founded the Falkin Investing Organization (FIO) as a nonprofit dedicated to investment education, developed a trading concept into what is now patent pending, and found that sharing my passion for the stock market via a blog is far more fun than just trading by myself.
The pursuit of passion on its own is still very much an ongoing journey, but I feel that life is twice as fun doing what you love each and every day. I was always told that you could achieve anything if you set your mind to it and wanted it badly enough, so that is the motto I now live by. My current goal is to reach full time blogger status of $3,000 a month income by my 22nd birthday, so May of 2008. As well I want to one day build my portfolio beyond the level it was once at in early 2005. I want to help others find there own passion for investing while connecting daily with those that have already found success.
Stock Trading To Go is my dedication to my dream, to find success in the pursuit of passion. I like to think that fear is the face of opportunity in disguise, and feel strongly that somehow someway I will succeed.
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Brian,
Everything you do to do good for someone will be returned to you twice better!!! Continue being a good man. I am a father of 3 and has started to build my life after serving the war in Iraq and other countries. I am still alive to this day because I wanted to build a future for my sons. I am glad you are there to assist folks like us who wants to learn and build our life financially. Good Luck and Keep on doing good things. I sure will use every info you sent out there.
Hey, I get what you say about starbucks!
I have become a helpless denizen of the starbucks parlour since i got to shanghai.
For me though it’s coffee of the day, every time!
[…] the stock market, but John said that this made me perfect for the job. Stock Trading 101 is run by Blain Reinkensmeyer of Michigan. As its name implies, it’s supposed to be a beginner’s course in the stock […]
Our paths will cross soon. head out to phoenix. keep up the hard work
[…] About the site and owner Stock Trading 101 is owned and operated by young (19) Blain Reinkensmeyer out of good old Michigan, USA. The site is a child of his overall non-profit Falkin Investing Organization. You’ll probably notice his name in my Top Commentators list fairly often as he’s quite the networker. You can read alot more about Blain at his About page. […]
Thanks for the comments on the emomsathome.com video that I did for them.
I see you are into stocks!! Me too, well I kind of lost way recently.. Oh well, so is this your full time job?
Anyway I have an accounting degree & MBA.. So I understand the excitement of it.. But only when you make money
Nick
You are the man bro!!!
Love the blog Blain - thanks - keep it up
I’m loving the blog Blain. Awesome yet simple design. Keep it up.!
Very inspirational - it’s nice to connect with like-minded young entrepreneurs. And good seeing you on Facebook!
I was like you nearly 40 years ago but didn’t then have the internet, computer charting, online trading, etc. But I’m not trading full-time, blogging and writing a book. I’m very jealous of you and wish I were young, like you, all over again.
Very interesting story. I wish you all the best! I am kind of in the same boat as you.
Hi Blain
My name is Mike and it will be my first time trading. Im not really sure what i am getting into but im gonna give it a try. I currently live in california im 32 and just making it things fall in my lap quite a bit and i admire your way of thinking and have many dreams going myself. I just recently signed up with a free account on sharebuilder you motivate me and hope to fare far better may the best man win.
Truly Hillbilly Herman
See.. you had the guts to do what you loved. I’m still stuck here at school at 25 getting a PhD in Engineering. Although I love engineering, I constantly take time out to catch up on the markets and trade. I was always told that I wasn’t a business man and should stay out of that area so I did. Biggest mistake of anyone’s live is to have someone dictate to you what you can and can’t do.
I feel your pain. I was up 180% in 4 months of trading only to have it taken from me in a matter of hours. There are some days where you’re flying high.. and then there’s most other days..
OK this may sound weird but im related to you Blain Reinkensmeyer i am Alex Reinkensmeyer and i live in OR You might know my dad Samuel Reinkensmeyer????
Bye!
I will be back… you have something good going here!
[…] Read more about him, here. […]
Blain, I can’t believe you are only in your 20s! You sound very wise beyond your age.