About
I created and host Digital Phantom, which is where the name Phantom Talks comes from. I'm a hacker at heart: I like to take things apart, see how they work, put them back together and sometimes build something new.
The journey
2008
The tinkering moved from toys to software.
2010
From multinational corporations to small businesses.
2020
A place to share what I learn about life, tech and money.
2026
18 years in, and still curious.
Ever since I was a little kid, I took apart my toys to learn how they worked. Unfortunately for little me, I did not always know how to put them back together 🙂
That curiosity never left. It just moved from toys to code.
I've been programming since 2008, which makes 18 years, and I still love it. I love watching a few lines of code turn into a useful, and sometimes beautiful, application that makes complex tasks simpler and takes the repetitive ones off my plate.
I've spent 16 years in IT and technology, working for both multinational corporations and small businesses, and that mix has taught me a lot. I enjoy sharing what I've learned along the way.
“Teaching is the best way to validate your knowledge and expertise.”
Outside of work, I'm always learning things that help me, my family and my community. Finance and investing are where I've spent a lot of that time, and I find them fascinating.
Before COVID, I traveled every week for work and picked up a lot of experience on the road. Now my work is mostly remote, and the trips I do take are occasional and mostly personal.
Phantom Talks is where I share my thoughts, experiences and what I've learned, on just about every part of life.
Software, security, and the gadgets and services worth your time.
Lessons from years of weekly work travel, and the personal trips since.
Investing, saving and the money habits I am still learning.
Lessons about family, relationships and community.
The occasional, honest take when it is worth saying.
A few posts that show what I write about, from money and travel to technology.
Finance3 min read
When it comes to retirement, early planning is crucial. The power of compounding interest and market performance yields the best results over a long period of time. Many young people think retirement is far in their future and procrastinate planning for retire
Travel3 min read
Spirit Airlines Grounded by Regulatory Interference On November 18, 2024, Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a move that everyone saw comming due to the financial struggles that the company has had for years. Spirit's financial struggl
Technology3 min read
As someone who lives and breathes technology, there are few things more frustrating than when tech fails, and you know what the problem is, but the world around you insists on "solutions" that don't address the root cause. If you've ever been the tech-savvy pe
Questions, ideas, or just want to say hi? I'd love to hear from you.
Phantom Talks