Jim Ginsburg, Vernon & Park Capital
Taking financial risk has been part of Jim’s life. Jim enjoyed getting a steady paycheck in the early 80’s as a clerk on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Unfortunately, the paycheck only covered gas, junk food and a share of the rent on an undesirable studio apartment in Chicago.
Jim then spent 20 years taking risk as a trader on the floor of CME. He successfully traded currency, agricultural and equity products. In 2001, he founded Vernon & Park Capital and serves as the Managing Partner. Vernon & Park is an investment firm focused on companies involved in the financial markets. Jim is or has been a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, New York Stock Exchange, New York Board of Trade, New York Mercantile Exchange, Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and Pacific Exchange. He served as an independent director of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and serves as a board observer for a number of Vernon & Park portfolio companies.
To deal with the lack of a steady paycheck throughout his career, Jim reminds himself of a line from Warren Buffet: “I’d rather make a rocky 15% than a steady 10%.” As a result of his activities, Jim now has better living quarters and eats better -- though he still has a weakness for deep-dish Chicago-style pizza.
When not working, Jim likes to run, read, ride a Triumph motorcycle and watch the Chicago Blackhawks, preferably live! He also has a passion for camping and hiking, especially with his three kids.
