Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruben Rozental.
Ruben, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Argentina and arrived in South Florida at the age of six. My parents worked six days a week for me to be the first in my family to go to college. I am the embodiment of the American dream, and I live my life according to the responsibility that comes with this gift.
I went to undergraduate school at the University of South Florida, getting a degree in Political Science. Following that I received a full assistantship at Northern Illinois University to study International Relations. Though my dream was to work at the State Department, the timing and my schooling did not lend to a career overseas. So at the suggestion of my advisor, I applied for and again received a full assistantship, this time to Syracuse University, where I studied finance and investment theory.
I graduated in 1982, went into banking, and after two years, had an opportunity to move to Chicago and trade commodities at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. While trading, I caught the attention of Merrill Lynch, which was the beginning of a 17-year career with them. I found this as an opportunity to use my knowledge in international relations to provide investment ideas to my clients, forming a great marriage.
This journey was my introduction into the world of investments which is where I have remained for over 30 years. During this time I have become well rounded in all aspects of financial and retirement planning, as well as portfolio management, and I was also trained in insurance and estate planning by the top insurance company in the industry.
I like sitting down with prospects at their kitchen table and discussing the dreams they have for themselves and for their family; then I get to do what I enjoy most … I create a roadmap to accomplish all their needs and desires.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being a business owner is never easy. It has its challenges, but the rewards are priceless. Financial planning is a competitive business, which has been tainted over the years by unscrupulous advisors. The public is rightfully wary, and our industry has seen the tragic and scary consequences of greed and deceit.
So the big challenge is setting myself apart from the rest, and making that apparent in my marketing materials and website. Once you have the chance to sit down with me personally, you will see, undoubtedly, that I am extremely knowledgeable, honest, transparent, completely accessible, fair, and absolutely committed to the successful outcomes of my clients.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I decided to start my own company because it became a priority for me to give expert advice to all those people who are turned away and/or disappointed by the large investment houses. I also wanted to provide my clients with a level of customer service and accessibility that exceeds their expectations ~ something that is often missing in my industry.
I named my company Black Pearl Financial Services, because only one in 10,000 pearls is black. Black pearls are rare and not easily duplicated. Our intention is that you deal with a firm that is unique, extraordinary, and uncompromising in its vision and ethics.
At Black Pearl Financial we believe in planning, so we spend a lot of time working with our clients and making sure that they can continue to live as well or better in retirement than they did during their working years. I specialize in building relationships. I am not interested in a single-transaction experience, and because of that, some of my clients have been with me for 27 years.
We are fiduciaries and so we must put the interest of the clients ahead of our own. I like that; it lets me sleep at night. In addition, we do not charge commission, we work on a fee based on the assets under direct management.
As I said earlier, customer service is of prime importance to us and something on which we pride ourselves. To us, it’s not a slogan. If you call and happen to get my voicemail, you will hear me say, “I will get back to you before I go to sleep tonight”. I mean every word of it. I treat my clients the way I like to be treated myself. I know when I am a consumer, I do not like to be left in the dark when I need a task handled and handled quickly.
Giving back to my community is something near and dear to my heart, and I have created flexibility in my business allowing me to do just that. I have lead personal effectiveness seminars to hundreds of people as a volunteer for a global educational company. I have been involved with Women In Distress, the Humane Society of Broward County, and have been the comptroller for a non-profit in Sierra Leone, Africa, that is currently building and creating a shelter for abused girls.
Because of how I’ve structured my business, I am able to travel often, and once a year I am sure to go to Sierra Leone and contribute to a people who have suffered through war, famine, disease and untold violence. Leoneans are a proud and resilient people, and my visits there inspire me and put all of my blessings in perspective.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Miami is a great city for my business, and just for the record, you can be a successful financial planner anywhere in this great country of ours. But it is important to love the place where you live and work. If you look at the makeup of Miami, it is very diverse. There are every race, religion and creed under the sun and that’s what makes it a special and exciting place to live. That is the future of our country. So how we handle these distinct groups and how we relate to each other is being watched, studied and copied throughout this nation.
Contact Info:
- Address: 350 Sevilla Avenue
Suite 101B
Coral Gables, FL 33134 - Website: www.blackpearlfs.com
- Phone: 305-790-0465
- Email: ruben@blackpearlfs.com
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
