By Tom Smith
I caught up with three-time World Champion Bareback Rider Brian Massey during the Sunday performance of the Ashville, North Carolina rodeo. Brian, an old friend, hung his spurs up following the 2000 IFR. He had accomplished all the goals that he had set for himself and felt that it was time to move on to something else. He was very successful in rodeo, winning the World in 1997, 1998 and 1999. He down plays the talent involved and explains the success by saying he treated rodeo like a business. Brian having a good head for dollars and understanding terms like capital gains and variable annuities�planned his runs weighing the costs of travel and entry fees to the financial gains that could be made. Brian put these basic business principles to use during his rodeo career, and continues to apply them today.
Brian is founder and co-owner of the Massey Investment Group. A comprehensive financial services firm committed to improving the long-term financial successes of their clients. My first thoughts were �how does a rodeo cowboy become a financial planner?� After discussing it with Brian, it was obvious that there was a good cowboy answer. �It was a job that needed to be done.�
At the 1998 Longhorn Finals Brian won a new pickup truck. He didn�t need the truck personally so he quickly sold the vehicle. The cash on hand was invested with a stock broker. The results were less than expected. Brian did his own research on line and by reading financial news papers. He felt that he could have done as well or better than the broker he had selected.
Wall Street had always fascinated Brian and the idea of having a career in the business intrigued him. He went to work for a financial planning company in Greenville, South Carolina and apprenticed under them for the next six months. He rigidly studied at home preparing for the state required exams. In 1999 he received his Insurance License and in 2000 he passed the General Securities License test. Brian worked under the Greenville firm until he entered into a partnership with his brother and opened his own office.
Brian a natural competitor; filled his competitive needs on the golf course following rodeo. It wasn�t long until he was entering amateur golf tournaments� It was about this time in the interview that I asked Brian what possessed him to crack out his bareback rigging after being retired for almost five years and having such a successful business. He just grinned real big and said �I just could not compete at the same level in golf that I could in rodeo.�
Brian still gets the same competitive rush, but admits that it hurts a little more than it used to. I asked what rodeo goals he had currently set for himself. He paused for a moment and said that he was still struggling to find exactly what he wanted this time around. �I�ve never rodeo�d part time before, it�s hard not to enter like your going full time. I don�t make my living from rodeo anymore, and don�t plan to either. I�m just enjoying the ride and the time spent with my family.�
�The first time around, I was always pushed to get to the next rodeo and didn�t get to take in all the sights and scenery. Now I have my wife and kids with me. It�s fun to travel and they can see the country and get an understanding of the rodeo lifestyle. When I was going hard I kind of took rodeo for granted. I now realize the significance of winning three consecutive world titles. This time I want to savor it.� I asked Brian if he was planning on making a run at a fourth title. He grinned and said he really wasn�t driven to make the finals, but the twinkle in his eye told me that the possibility shouldn�t be counted out.
I can remember Brian back in the day� eating at Waffle houses and sleeping six to a room. This time around certainly has a different appearance. We conducted the interview in the arena parking lot in his 38 foot diesel Monaco Windsor tour bus� complete with polished brass fixtures and flat screen TVs. I poked fun at him saying he looked more like a country music star than a rodeo cowboy. He grinned and said he was worried about making his traveling partners soft. He sat with his daughter asleep on his lap, eating cheetos, visiting with friends and watching golf on the flat screen TV. I guess it doesn�t get any better than that.
I asked Brian what advise he would give to the kids just starting out. He looked over at his traveling partner, 48 year old veteran bareback rider Harold Miller; the guy that started him out�Harold the instructor grinned and with one eye brow cocked waited patiently for his student�s response. Brian stated � the most important part of rodeo is getting a good grasp of the fundamentals, and then keep getting on until you learn to ride. Get with the right people� guys with positive attitudes� always look at it from a business point of view and not a party trail�� The instructor smiled and nodded in approval of the students answer and took another handful of cheetos.
For information with financial planning, investments, retirement plans etc. you can contact the Massey Investment Group at www.masseyinvestmentgroup.com
Brian Massey on � Bareback Horse L7 � 1998 IFR - Photo by: Sammy Billy