Advisor Gary Schwartz was always able to make money; at the young age of 12, he started delivering newspapers in the Bronx. That’s also when he discovered drugs and alcohol, which became a way for him to self-medicate and cope with his self-esteem issues. From there, the addiction progressed; cocaine and speed were his drugs of choice.
In this episode, Diana Britton, managing editor of WealthManagement.com, is joined by Schwartz, president and CEO of Madison Planning Group in White Plains, N.Y., who’s been clean for 32 years. Gary shares how he eventually got on the road to recovery. But once he got clean, he felt the need to overcompensate for his addiction and his past by buying things for his family and sending his kids to the best schools. That eventually caught up to him as well, and he nearly had to file for bankruptcy.
He discusses his journey of overcoming those struggles to build his own advisory business, which is now thriving.
Gary Schwartz at a bar in his late 20s. He's been clean and sober for more than 30 years.
Gary discusses:
- The experiences that shaped him early on in life;
- What led him to become addicted to drugs and alcohol;
- What his career looked like while he was struggling with addiction and how it has changed throughout recovery;
- How family and friends played a role in getting help;
- How his desire to overcompensate eventually led him to near-bankruptcy; and
- How Gary’s experiences shaped his career in financial services.
Gary Schwatz (center) with his sons, Ben (left) and Andrew.
If you have a struggle and wish to share your experiences and help others in similar situations, please reach out to Diana at [email protected].
The Transparency with Diana B. podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever podcasts are found.
