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By Sharon Longo
Contributing Author
BRIDGEWATER – When Louis Ricciardi landed a paper route on the age of 9, he by no means dreamed that in the future the School of Enterprise at Bridgewater State College would bear his title.
Ricciardi, President and CEO of Bristol Wealth Group/Raymond James Monetary in Taunton, is the son of working-class mother and father, his paternal grandparents settling right here from Italy. He mentions how his father labored arduous, fought within the conflict and gave him his work ethic. “My dad labored three jobs and managed to in some way do what he needed to do earlier than he handed,” he recalled. “It’s been 37 years since he handed, however he continues to be an inspiration. He died with two years’ price of trip.”
“A few of my dad’s examples have been quite simple, however I bear in mind them to today,” stated Ricciardi. “He all the time stated in the event you had one thing to say, you wanted to have the ability to additionally roll up your sleeves and work to make it higher. In case you weren’t going to roll up your sleeves, hold your mouth shut.” He added with a smile, “So I open my mouth, and I roll up my sleeves.”
How it began
He started saving and investing all the things he earned as quickly as he was legally in a position to take action at age 18. When he acquired accepted to Boston School and Bridgewater State College, it was a simple alternative. “I insisted on paying my very own manner. Boston School was $6200 a yr, and Bridgewater State was $250 per yr.” Between the fee, the alternatives afforded him at Bridgewater, and the truth that he may commute, he continued his lifetime love of studying.
“I favored the very cosmopolitan, various background that Bridgewater offered,” he stated. “I wished to study extra formally about financial rules. I wished to hone my writing abilities.” Beginning out with a humanities background, majoring in English and economics, he was capable of mix the 2 by writing a column for the school newspaper on the inventory market. That led to writing a column per week for 21 years at The Enterprise, town of Brockton’s day by day newspaper. “Whether or not it’s poetry, journalism or lyrics―that’s all the time fascinated me,” Ricciardi noticed.
Music soothes the soul
Ricciardi not solely dabbles in writing lyrics, however as somebody who has loved music his complete life, he performs the piano and guitar, as effectively. “I performed at some eating places, as soon as upon a time, after I had the time, and it’s an excellent stress reliever and an effective way to satisfy folks,” he stated. “To today, that’s my launch from the craziness of the inventory market.” Whether or not he was enjoying for associates or leaping in with the band at an occasion he attended throughout his stint because the chairman of the board of trustees at Bridgewater State College (BSU), folks could be shocked to see him in that capability.
“I used to be blessed to have the ability to play varsity baseball and run cross nation at a aggressive stage however enjoying music, at this level in my life, is the one factor I’m so glad I stayed with all these years.”
Offering alternatives
Ricciardi has a vibrant persona, talking with zeal concerning the many undertakings in his life, however when he’s requested about his years at BSU, his ardour comes by much more. “I felt so ready for all times, having the boldness to start out my very own enterprise within the 1981 recession,” he defined. “There weren’t a variety of younger folks doing that, at that age, at the moment.” He needs to make certain that college students going ahead even have those self same alternatives or have alternatives that he didn’t have. He has been formally concerned with the school for 30-plus years, his first time as chairman of the board of trustees, from 1990 to 1994. “The very first thing we did in ’90 and ‘91 was add an economics main and a music main,” he famous. “Through the years, I’ve funded a scholar funding fund at Bridgewater State, in addition to on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.”
He additionally helped increase cash for the brand new baseball and softball fields again within the Nineteen Nineties. “The sphere that we performed on was… pathetic doesn’t even start to explain it,” he remembered. “Residence plate confronted into the solar; there was a dip within the outfield. We acquired folks on board, and we raised funds. I’ve been blessed to have invested effectively, from the beginning, and that I may put up matching funds frequently to get a few of these initiatives executed.”
Giving again
“Bridgewater State had a profound impact on me,” he affirmed. “My advisor from 1977 continues to be a pricey pal of mine. He simply turned 80.”
“It truly is that sense of no matter you’re doing in life, on the finish of the day, you’re actually simply passing it to the following group,” he mused. “Whether or not it’s succession planning in my very own enterprise as we speak, the place I’ve been actively coaching some of us of their twenties and thirties for down the road, or on the college to higher put together our college students.”
His purpose has been to take the thriller out of the monetary markets and make difficult terminology that goes with finance into one thing that’s extra comprehensible. “I like serving to folks perceive; it’s not magic, it’s math,” he emphasised. “The way in which cash compounds; the connection of cash to itself. In my 42 years in enterprise, I nonetheless love assembly with youngsters and grandchildren of my clients and college students, whether or not it’s at Bridgewater State or on the Boys and Women Membership of Metro South, the place I’ve been on the board for 23 years. I attempt to take away the thriller of Wall Road, that faraway place.”
Recommendation to older folks
After admitting that he lately turned 63, he said, “Folks all the time say I don’t look or act like somebody of their 60s, no matter that’s purported to appear like. An enormous a part of that’s staying engaged together with your communities; particularly with the younger folks of these communities, and whereas they don’t admit it proper up entrance, they’re on the lookout for that steerage,” he defined. “They need encouragement; they need steerage, and I believe staying engaged retains you younger and curious.”
Ricciardi additionally mentions not taking your self too severely, doing no matter you take into account to be enjoyable, and being keen to study new issues. “Whether or not it’s dancing extra, studying an instrument―we discuss life-long studying, to circle again to the school world. Whether or not it’s touring or taking a course, going to a chat that you simply won’t have in any other case gone to,” he stated.
The impression he’ll make
When requested concerning the legacy he’ll go away or the impression he’ll make, he responded thoughtfully. “Anyone from anyplace can obtain something. You will be born in a area, you’ll be able to go to high school in a area, you’ll be able to come again and begin a enterprise,” he famous. “You don’t must run away. It’s enjoyable to journey, however the reply…it’s proper there in your yard, if you wish to actually make it that manner. One particular person can have an effect; you can also make a distinction in the event you’re relentless in what you imagine,” stated Ricciardi. “It’s not a lot making an attempt to make everyone else imagine what you imagine. We’ve acquired an excessive amount of of that. Allow them to see by your instance and your engagement. I hope that while you’re given a possibility to steer, which I’ve been afforded many instances in my life, that you simply use it to actively get issues executed.”
He then refers to having the School of Enterprise named for himself. “Good instance. That was fully flattering…I used to be solely 52 years previous.” He goes on to clarify how that honor led to the following query. “I stated, ‘In case you’re going to do that, what can we do with it?’ He talked about among the issues he’s attacked. “Whether or not it’s establishing the student-managed funding funds or beginning an endowment. The present president of the college and I co-founded the preliminary endowment marketing campaign again in ’99,” Ricciardi defined. “In order that’s been the impression I in the end have had right here. I hope above all else, that when folks begin itemizing the issues they suppose I’ve executed which might be price itemizing, it’s that,” he stated. “Anyone can do that in the event you’re passionate sufficient about what you’re doing and actually engaged and actually listening.”
“I believe the legacy, I suppose, is you’ll be able to develop up on this area and make a distinction,” he concluded. “You may increase your loved ones on this area and provides again, and hopefully nonetheless be related.”
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