Julie Rains's Bio

Other kids may have memories of their dads showing them how to ride a bike or their moms drilling them on times tables, but what do I remember? My dad explaining to me how compound interest worked and showing me his mortgage amortization table when I was, oh, about 8 or 9 years old. Ah, the time value of money. I'm not sure if I should have experienced more as a child or if there was just something about present and future values, interest rates, and exponential growth that just clicked with me. Years later, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a a concentration in Finance from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Since then, I worked as a financial analyst for a regional bank, staff accountant for an apparel manufacturer, and accounting manager for a consumer products company. All underwent some sort of major transition following acquisitions, driving me to pursue a career outside the corporate realm as a freelance business writer. Along the way, I learned tons from clients, who allow me to probe inside their brains in order to gather the information that I need to write reasoned, intelligent, informed communication pieces for them. I've also earned the designation as Certified Professional Resume Writer, did graduate work in New Media, and contributed to four career-services books. Recently, I became the co-author of the money-saving book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget.

I'm a mortgage-free homeowner, not just because I'm frugal but also because I've owned my house for a while. I love business, especially learning about how businesses operate, make money, treat people (their employees, shareholders, and customers), and adapt to changing times. I am a wife and mom, which means there's always something else I need to do.

It's exciting to have the opportunity to tell stories and share information that gives someone insight into a dilemma or illustrates a concept in a way that leads to understanding. What I really enjoy, though, is learning, reflecting, and growing with my fellow bloggers, our readers, and any other blogosphere citizens who happen to stop for a visit.