The Human Equation Podcast Blog

Episode 01 ft. Brian Moss: Understanding How Psychology Shapes Financial Markets

Aarna Agrawal

The first interview of The Human Equation Podcast was a success! Our exploration of Brian’s story reflects the podcast’s mission of delving beyond professions and achievements to uncover something more. My interview with Brian wasn’t just about founding his company – it was about his family influences, personal evolution, and a philosophy that puts people first. 

Takeaways:

One point particularly worth highlighting is how well Brian Moss embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. He began his journey by opening a business in high school and continued its operations until the start of college. From there, he worked for multiple companies, like UBS and JP Morgan, gaining experience and expertise in professional investing, risk management, and alternative investments. 

However, during the process of founding Soaring Capital, he was still skeptical, and his hesitation was partially a product of his risk-averse mentality. During the interview, Brian elucidated how his upbringing was profoundly influenced by his grandparents, who lived through the Great Depression. His risk-averseness, a product of his environment, runs counter to the risk-taking mentality that is typically associated with entrepreneurship. 

Brian’s risk-conscious mentality is something I can very much relate to. My parents immigrated to America from India as a newlywed couple, and struggled financially for their first few years here before finally feeling secure enough to start a family. Though it has been over 15 years since then,  my parents’ experiences stayed with them, influencing how they think about, manage, and spend their money. So, I find Brian’s ability to transform his mindset, while maintaining his passion–ultimately leading him to found Soaring Capital–inspiring. As a high school student embarking on her own sort of “entrepreneurial journey,” Brian’s story about taking that leap to found Soaring Capital is inspiring. It’s a reminder to always acknowledge when something is holding you back, and always ruminate on how to turn it into a strength instead. 

His relationships with his clients, or in his words, partnerships, whether it’s a transactional relationship or a friendship, both feed into his business strategy. On one side, if his clients prosper, he prospers (the transactional side). On the other side, gathering soft data by talking to clients helps him understand the sentiment of the market and inform his strategy. This idea of human connection comes into play in both ways. As I remarked during the interview, “That’s a very human way of seeing and doing things.”

Closing Message

This insight is the principal reason why I developed my podcast. Even though decisions in business, finance, and economics might seem based on “hard data,” understanding the human story and psychology behind such decisions is equally, if not more, important. It is only after hearing stories of risk, obstacles, and growth, such as Brian’s, that we can truly comprehend the factors that drive not just professional success but a fulfilled life. The Human Equation Podcast is dedicated to examining this intersection, bringing you conversations that explore these stories – to reveal the people behind the numbers. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this conversation. Drop a comment below! :)