Who is Ryan? Archives

Finding Balance: Curly Was Right

Posted on June 12, 2026

I have written a fair amount over the years about SEC examinations, FINRA enforcement actions, compliance programs, and the various ways regulators can complicate an otherwise pleasant afternoon.

This is not one of those posts.

Instead, I want to revisit one of the more important lessons...

He Has a Degree in What?

Posted on December 10, 2025

The Bachelor of Science degree that I earned from the University of Maryland is in ... architecture. No, not English, philosophy or any of a number of fields that feature analysis and writing, but architecture. My family sometimes chuckles at this,...

Lessons from the Marine Corps Marathon

Posted on November 26, 2025

The last time that I participated in "Show and Tell" had to have been in Ms. Duhamel's class at Patton Elementary a long time ago. A very long time. Yet there I was at a recent ProVisors meeting, asked to bring an item that meant something to me...

With Apologies to Jerry West

Posted on November 13, 2025

I am not ashamed to admit that I am a logo geek. My F3 workout buddies can attest to my collection of pom hats bearing hockey logos from the 1970s, and in fact, if given the chance I would compel a certain hockey team to return to

Finding Balance as a Lawyer, Part 4: Equipment

Posted on August 22, 2022

An Ode to Curly and Work-Life Balance, Part 4: Equipment I think that we can all agree that work-life balance – whatever that means to you – is critical. Just consider the events of the past few years. (And, no Nationals’ fans, I am not talking about the Juan Soto trade.) I have offered my views...

Finding Balance as a Lawyer, Part 3: Service

Posted on July 19, 2022

An Ode to Curly and Work-Life Balance: Service Readers of this blog (Thanks, Mom!) know that I have offered a few thoughts about the roles that food and fitness played in my effort to achieve work-life balance. These are not the only components. Service is an important part of my life as well.

The...

Finding Balance as a Lawyer, Part 2: Fitness

Posted on June 24, 2022

An Ode to Curly and Work-Life Balance: Fitness I noted that the one thing that I need to maintain – Curly’s finger, if you will – is balance. The balance between managing my practice, being a good husband, father, friend, etc. and taking care of my spirit, mind and body. I previously wrote about the role that...

Finding Balance as a Lawyer, Part 1: Food

Posted on June 8, 2022

An Ode to Curly and Work-Life Balance, Part 1: Food In a previous post, I noted that the one thing that I need to maintain – Curly’s finger, if you will – is balance. I need to have balance between managing my practice, being a good husband, father, friend, etc. and taking care of my...

Cowboy Curly, Mitch and Work-Life Balance

Posted on May 26, 2022

All of my commentary to this point has concerned matters involving broker-dealers, registered investment advisers and their associates. It is what I do. I help them spend more time building out their businesses by addressing their legal and compliance issues with clear, detailed advice.

Today, though, I would like...