hello

My name is Jonathan.
I help people build assets.

I’ve spent more than 20 years analyzing and forecasting ideas across the global economy. Work that’s covered deals in public and private equity, real estate, and commodities. Today, that work helps business leaders leverage financial data and market insights to drive sustainable value.

about me

This is my journey.
Here’s the story so far…

Born β™“ and raised in the south, moved across 3 states, 2 major cities, and 6 schools in 18 years. Three sport πŸ€ 🎾 🏌 letter athlete in high school, studied computer science in college, and went into finance summer of 2001.

By November, I was a series 7 licensed broker making 300+ πŸ“ž cold calls a day, finding and pitching deals to HNW investors, and spending nights learning strategies and best practices of top money managers.

Got really good at finding the right stocks and writing reports. Built positions in NXTL, WMB, AAPL, and CHKP. However, it didn’t take long to become disenchanted with industry norms (IYKYK) and after Hurricane Wilma destroyed my office 🏒 decided to start a research service for DIY investors. This was well before newsletters were in vogue.

Spent the next decade picking winners across the capital markets and managing private assets for a select group of clients. By 2015, I had begun working more with entrepreneurs and executives – turning investment strategies into models for better business development.

From 2002 to 2018, my research handily outperformed the S&P 500 with close to 75% accuracy. Subscribers included affluent investors, family offices, and financial professionals with total assets under management reaching well into the billions.

During that run, I helped to create and write the premium newsletter at GuruFocus and have since published over 600 πŸ“ articles, many seen on major financial news sites. Along the way, coached 20+ executives, 2 from the Fortune 1000, and wrote a book πŸ“– on better investing.

In 2018, I decided to close my research service in order to focus on building a membership for business development, designed mostly for SMEs. Then my grandmother passed, the Covid-19 pandemic happened, my wife gave birth our first child all in successive years.

Fast forward to 2026 and I’m back…Β still helping people like you drive profit and progress. I wasn’t Ivy League educated or groomed by a major Wall Street Bank, and I’ve given away billions of $$$$ worth of advice in the last 2 decades. Check the resume. It doesn’t matter what industry or market your business is in, you can improve quality, value, and impact.

Proof is in the pudding…
Socials
Personal Stuff
  • Scratch golfer when playing regularly
  • Big fan of English football, $MANU
  • Had a ~40” vertical in college, can probably still dunk
  • Avid (albeit average) chess player

Learn More

Brand Values Jonathan Poland

Brand Values

Brand values are the principles and beliefs that a brand stands for and that guide its actions. They reflect the…

Captive Market Jonathan Poland

Captive Market

A captive market is a market where a group of customers is forced to buy from a limited number of…

Job Orientation Jonathan Poland

Job Orientation

Job orientation, also known as onboarding, is the process of introducing new employees to the company and their role. It…

Strategic Advantage Jonathan Poland

Strategic Advantage

A strategic advantage refers to a position that gives a company an edge over its competitors and makes it likely…

Stability Jonathan Poland

Stability

Stability is the ability of a system, organization, or individual to maintain its current state or condition despite external pressures…

Fixed Costs Jonathan Poland

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are expenses that remain constant regardless of changes in a company’s level of production or sales. These costs…

Strategic Thinking Jonathan Poland

Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is the process of considering the long-term direction and needs of an organization, and developing plans and strategies…

Market Saturation Jonathan Poland

Market Saturation

Market saturation refers to a state in which a particular market is filled with a high number of similar products…

Knowledge Value Jonathan Poland

Knowledge Value

Knowledge value is the value that is derived from knowledge, skills, and information. It can be a measure of the…