From military intelligence analyst to student leader

Like many fellow students working toward a master’s degree in finance at FIU, Ty Taylor began the program already running his own business.

Yet Taylor, who graduated earlier this year with a 4.0 GPA, came to the College of Business’s Master of Science in Finance program with special skills he was happy to share.

During his military career, Taylor became a naval intelligence analyst, serving on an aircraft carrier. He was also part of a flight crew that tracked the electronic pings and acoustic pongs given off by Russian nuclear submarines.

“I learned a lot of good habits,” Taylor said of his time in the U.S. Navy. That included an ability to take action, even in the absence of complete information.

Military veterans like Taylor often become role models of discipline and leadership for fellow students. Taylor, in fact, was the recipient of three top awards at the program’s graduation dinner last summer: Best Student, the Leadership Award and the Directors award.

“I grew comfortable with imprecision and uncertainty – making the best estimates with the information you have and dealing with uncertain situations,” he said. And that ability proved key in building his business, Asset Analytics Inc., a company valuation firm.

“One of the things I see in my work is that people are often uncomfortable with uncertainty and making assumptions. But you still have to make a decision.”

The decision to build on his experience and background by pursuing further education at FIU was an easy one.

Taylor, who has an MBA and several professional certifications, chose the program because of the school’s reputation, the convenience of weekend classes, and the reasonable cost.

“The value proposition of an MSF degree from FIU is clear,” Taylor said.

Recognition has come from the outside as well. In June, Financial Times ranked the program fifth in its Master in Finance Post-Experience category, marking its third year of inclusion in these global rankings.

For more about Ty Taylor and FIU’s Master of Science in Finance program, click here.