SJBiz_CloseOfBiz_1_20_CloseOfBiz 1 / 20 / 20 3 : 51 PM Page 1 CLOSE OF BIZ Secondary Passions outh Jersey executives are passionate about their busi - nesses and work life , and S some are just as enthusiastic — if not more — about what they do outside of the office , but don’t get the chance to go into detail about it . We thought it would be fun for three local executives to talk about their secondary pas - sion , how they discovered it and DANIEL J . RUOLOTO , MICHAEL PALLOZZI MICHAEL LAMAINA , CFP , CHFC how they are able to overlap it in CPA , MS President Founder , President some ways with their business . Partner , CEO HFM Investment Advisors , LLC Cornerstone Financial Edited by Julie Shannon Ruotolo , Spewak & Co . / DIGIT Advisors Inc . “ Hands down it is auto racing “ Giving back is a deep - seeded “ After my family , my work and WHAT IS YOUR SECONDARY with the Sports Car Club of passion of mine , which led to the all my community activities , I’d PASSION ? America ( SCCA ) , the largest establishment of Student Work - have to say I really enjoy golf . amateur racing club in the U.S . ing Professionals ( SWP ) more It’s nice to get away from the I than 20 years ago . Built on the office for a little bit and into the have traveled nationwide to principles of social entrep fresh air to spend time on the participate in races , spending reneur - golf course . Golf is a challeng - about 15 weekends behind the ship , the organization provides ing and humbling experience , wheel . There’s such a cama - real world internships , practical but it’s always fun and relax - raderie and the adrenaline experience , life skills and cultural ing . ” rush — there’s nothing quite like growth to all youth , including it . To this day , I get butterflies those with learning and social Q before every race . ” disabilities . ” “ I was a ‘ motor head ’ from a “ Early in my career I was fortu - “ When I was a kid , my dad used HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THIS young age and would work with nate to have a mentor who to let me tag along with him PASSION ? my brother fixing up cars and opened my eyes to the meaning and his buddies for their Satur - motorcycles . It was a client who of ‘ pay it forward ’ and it has stuck day morning golf outings . All of introduced us both to the sport with me . I incorporated a teach - them took a personal interest and I was hooked immediately . learn philosophy in all aspects of and pride in me and they More than 10 years later , it has my life and surrounded myself helped me improve my game . become a with others who share the same . They took me under their wings family affair . My wife Yet being a and I built great relationships and kids are my pit crew and social - prenueur , I and memories on the golf my daughter , Shauna , has not wanted to help others discover Q course . It was also a special way only followed in my career foot - the power of living a ‘ pay - it - for - to spend time with my dad . ” steps , but is racing as well . ” ward ’ way of life . ” “ Golfing does overlap with my “ This is a niche for Cornerstone “ The SWP program has helped profession because golfing Financial advisors and the servic - several hundred aspiring young DOES IT OVERLAP WITH YOUR with clients is a good way for us es we offer , including business adults and installs lifelong charac - BUSINESS ? IF SO , IN WHAT to get to know each other bet - continuation , succession plan - ter . Ruotolo , Spewak & Co . is only WAYS ? ter . We can relax outside and ning and retirement planning . one of our clients who have em - enjoy a friendship away from They also have families to protect ployed SWP interns within a work or a review meeting . By and we provide individuals with teach - learn culture . Several of building and deepening rela - investment management , life in - these students have gone onto tionships with my clients , I am surance and estate planning . We full - time positions with RS & S Co . , better able to understand who share the same passions — family , two of whom recently became they are business and racing — making for partners . ” and what’s important Q great friends and loyal cl to them . ” ients . ” 48 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 | SouthJerseyBiz.net