Bulletproof Investing

CHAPTER 3Learning from the best: Uncle John

In May 2010, I landed in the offices of my uncle, John Fitzgerald. John had invited me to do a couple of weeks of work experience, without knowing I was at a crossroads academically and professionally.

I was still in the thick of law and accountancy studies at Bond University, but having growing doubts about what I wanted to do long term. Both professions promised a steady, safe and reliable future, but was that really what I wanted? For the rest of my life? There's nothing wrong with safe, steady and reliable, but I really wasn't sure it was the right path for me. I had many more questions than answers. However, within a week of walking through the front door of John's head office in Nerang, I had developed a whole new sense of purpose.

John is nothing if not an enigmatic character. Up until that point, he was somebody I knew well socially in a family context, but not professionally. Growing up, my exposure to John was restricted to exploring his Disneyland-esque house and all its impressive accoutrements on the river at Carrara. He was clearly very successful, but when you're 10, you don't wonder why or how. John had a big house (three in fact — there was also a beach house and a farm) but beyond that, I hadn't stopped to contemplate the process behind these trappings of success. My only genuine exposure to him through my teenage years was undertaking joint physical challenges: running around the hills of Burleigh together at breakneck ...