The American Tailwind

The American Tailwind was inspired by a quote from Warren Buffett: “I had great parents, I had good health, and I was born in the United States of America.” Part One dives into Warren Buffett's lineage and how it impacted the man he would become and the business he built. The authors expound on the teachings of Warren Buffett by attending the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder meetings in Omaha, Nebraska, over the last 18 consecutive years. The authors then relate the information learned from Warren Buffett to their upbringing and share the grit of their own family lineage. Part Two details the importance of honoring our American soldiers. The authors explore the leadership skills of Generals Washington, Grant, and Patton, along with sharing over 60 stories, over six generations, of American soldiers related to their employees and/or spouses. This book gives insights into what makes The United States of America an incredible country—through the sacrifice of brave men and women who have served our country, along with the grit of great parenting. The purpose of this book is not only to be a teaching tool for investing but also a reminder to the next generation of American resilience and to reflect upon the expression: “The best thing that happened to me today is that I woke up in the United States of America.” “It is beyond arrogance for American businesses or individuals to boast that they have ‘done it alone.' The tidy rows of simple white crosses at Normandy should shame those who make such claims.”—Warren Buffett. The proceeds of this book are dedicated to American veterans. A portion of the proceeds are dedicated to the Staff Sergeant Matthew Thompson Veterans Resource Center Scholarship Fund at Concordia University in Irvine, California.

www.cui.edu/studentlife/veterans/ssg-matthew-thompson

Another portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to various U.S. Military charities.

James F. Marshall is a Wisconsin native who grew up on a dairy farm in Redgranite, WI. He eventually left the farm and attended the UW-Oshkosh, obtaining a BS in economics. James planted roots in Germantown and founded Spectrum Investment Advisors in Mequon in 1995 and currently is the chairman and partner. He has dedicated much of his free time to his community. James is the chairman of Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce Past Presidents, and the president-elect of the Ozaukee County Economic Development. James admires Warren Buffett's success and moral code and has applied much of Buffett's advice to his own life. Having lived through the Korean, Vietnam, and Cold Wars, James witnessed the valor that the U.S. military men/women hold. James and his brothers served in the Army Reserve & National Guard during the Vietnam War. He is a proud American who acknowledges the bravery that backs every U.S. citizen's success.

Jonathan J. Marshall and his family reside in Milwaukee. Jon earned a BS in economics from UW-La Crosse and an MBA in finance from DePaul University. Jon is a partner and chief investment officer of Spectrum Investment Advisors. At the firm, Jon takes on a variety of leadership roles, varying from education to research to compliance. Jon developed his father's dream, as he cultivated the vision that his father set when founding the firm. Jon has attended 16 of the 18 consecutive Annual Berkshire Hathway meetings in Omaha with his father and shares a similar admiration for Warren Buffett and America.

Katalina Pavon was raised in Germantown. She secured her first professional internship with Spectrum Investment Advisors in 2018—the rest is history. During the development of The American Tailwind, Katalina graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago in 2022, majoring in finance and marketing. She has also pursued an MBA in data analytics from Loyola and began her career in sales within the finance industry in Chicago.