When asked to write about my athletic background through childhood and as a young adult, I immediately thought, “Well this shouldn't take long. I didn't have an athletic background growing up.”

I would have called myself a normal kid growing up. I liked playing in the backyard, playing catch with the football, baseball, and kicking around a soccer ball. I tried a variety of different athletic activities early on including a youth soccer league and a baseball team but was average at best in those activities. I wasn't much into sports actually and much preferred the following activities while growing up; fishing, catching frogs or small wild animals, reflecting powerful sun-rays on ants through the use of a magnifying glass, jumping ramps on my bike, doing about 50 a day in the neighbors pool during the summertime (cannonballs, not laps), and reading anything related to sharks.

In high school I twice attempted to participate in traditional sports. My first attempt was a two part series to be a member of the high school wrestling team. I found myself quite good at being a 'rag doll' for the other wrestlers to practice on. I eventually got into an actual wresting meet and it provided my first and hopefully last exposure to wearing a neck brace for multiple weeks on end. The second 'finale' part of the series ended with a knee brace the following season. My coach nicknamed me 'the fish' because he knew I would rather be fishing than going to wrestling practice and he said that I flopped around on the mat like a desperate fish out of water.

I also tried out for the high school baseball team. I don't have much to report on that other than I was cut after only the second day. I suppose I should try to eBay that baseball glove as it is still like new. Maybe I could get enough to buy some Powerbars?

I entered college as a scrawny kid as I graduated from high school at a whopping 110 pounds. I began lifting weights. You know what they say, "Curls for the girls." I became hooked on weightlifting and proceeded to pack on about 100 pounds onto my frame over the next 10 years. My all time highest weight was 218 pounds (very briefly) when I was about 28 years old.

Although I loved weightlifting I just started to feel poorly about my declining health. I was heavy, slow and not very active with my career and jobs after college. Finance and Accounting has a way of keeping you inactive for long stretches of time (like decades for example). It was in the spring of 2002 that I purchased a pair of running shoes and began 'official training' for the 4th of July Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia. The Peachtree Road race is the nation's largest 10k road race and has over 55,000 runners. I crossed the finish line in 1:02:42 while choking on my own vomit but seemed to enjoy it enough to keep running. The rest is history.

Check out my race results and progress

Professional Background

Born and raised in Niagara Falls , New York , Paul obtained his Undergraduate Accounting degree and MBA in Corporate Finance from the State University of New York. Before starting Niagara Financial Advisors, LLC (www.niagarafinancial.net), he worked as a CPA and consultant at the international firm Ernst & Young, LLP, where he worked in both the Atlanta , Georgia office and in the national headquarters office in Cleveland , Ohio . Paul left Ernst & Young when he determined that he wanted to work with individual clients rather than corporate entities. He felt that he could positively impact people who had similar goals as him, obtaining financial freedom and financial security. He founded Niagara Financial Advisors, LLC, because he enjoys working with people who have big goals, big ambitions and are striving to get the most out of life.

As opposed to many advisors that have high account minimums, Paul enjoys working with a broader range of individuals who are interested in building wealth and becoming more financially secure. Building wealth is a combination of time, a process and discipline. It's very similar to athletics. Over years of executing a solid plan, most individuals can become financially secure which allows them the time to do the things that they love to do in life. He looks to work with people that have certain characteristics; motivation to achieve financial security, discipline to execute a plan, the patience to let time work on their side, and the desire to take action. It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish and how much you enjoyed the process of achievement. Sacrificing everything for some point decades down the road might turn out to be a foolish mistake if you don't live to see the day a few decades down the road. There has to be a balance between achieving your goals and enjoying your life while doing the things you love.

Paul is extremely passionate about his philosophy; being healthy, wealthy and happy. When asked why he stated, "The money doesn't mean a darn thing if you aren't healthy enough to enjoy it. The two most important things in life are your relationships with loved ones and your health. Building wealth allows you the freedom and security to enjoy your limited time on earth. Real wealth allows you to use your time wisely pursuing your passions. When it is all said and done, everybody has 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. No more and no less. It's the ability to use those 24 hours each day effectively that can lead to happiness."

An avid competitor, triathlete, health, wellness, and fitness fanatic, Paul has completed many full Ironman triathlons and is a testament to his own philosophy. Not only is Paul an athlete but he is also a very talented musician. He plays the piano, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar and the drums (he seems to love making noise in general).

Paul's idea of a perfect day would be to wake up and go for a swim, biking in the mountains, running in the woods, checking in on the stock market, followed by playing some music and spending time with the people that he cares most about. And he still likes fishing although that activity has taken a little bit of a back seat lately. Maybe in retirement.

Paul's goal is to encourage others to strive for excellence and exceed themselves. "I hope we all become wealthy, healthy and happy together. We could do it!"