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Show i Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 5 features@statesman.usu.edu JZ974769- interviews with different companies, he said he found a job ;il ;i Wall Sheet firm tailed David N. PesuUh and Company. Now he is the investment banker and senior psuciate, and Shoaf said he is living the dream. F Shoaf, originally from American Fork, Utah, said he tiill V John Shoaf said he advises CEOs and owners of large corporations with dating career lie could think of. y specific finance issues. And he said he absolutely loves it. vSo he tried Wall Sired on for size. "I love it because 1 gel lo see I he world from a topA previous USU student. 25-year-old Shoaf said he down perspective. 1 don't just learn about finance. 1 also moved lo New York City to find out what he could rebecome an expert on a broad array of industries," he ally do. It was a challenging process, he said, especially said in an e-mail interview. since most investment bunks oidy recruit from Ivy League schools, Hut after more than 100 informational For example. Shoaf said he closed a merger deal ihis month thar created the world's largest manufacturer of industrial bakery equipment. Another time, he helped with the process of selling a consumer products company to Conair. But everything comes with a sleep learning curve, he snid. "It's not uncommon for my director to come in and any, 'John. Tin meeting with the American head of Toyptu in two days, make me an expert on the steel services Industry by 4 p.m. tomorrow/" he said, Shoal said this is one example of i he fast pace and high pressure of the finance world and shows that in his job, the learning curve never goes away, lie helps companies decide if they should sell, buy or merge with others. Shoal' also said be helps companies raise large amounts of money, millions or billions oi dollars, so they can grow their business. Shoaf decided he wanted to pursue the mote intimidating career fw Through this experience. Sh could think of so he moved to Now York and had more than 100 informational interviews before lindinp, hi* |ob. Photo towtety of John Sttoaf I ] See WALL STREET, pa The root of all evil M omma always told me to steer clear of three and four-letter words, but it's become clear this is the only way to get rich quick. No, I haven't decided to give up all my morals and become a lying politician, nor have I decided to become a comedian. My newest pursuit is to become rich - fast. I've been exposed to just about every get-rich-quick scheme imaginable. "It's easy, all you have to do is take your Swiss army knife, jab it in your side, twist it around a little bit and pull really hard until your kidney comes out. Then put it in a Ziploc bag, add a little water for flavoring, and sell it on eBay. Then, I'll get a percentage of the profit and so will you, and so will everyone else under you. And the best part is, the government won't even have to know about it." Strangely enough, 1 have an affinity for my internal organs, and getting busted for tax fraud has never been a hobby of mine, so these schemes have always bothered me. But still, even the remote possibility of getting rich without doing a lot of work appeals to me, as it does to most people in this country. Unfortunately the economic masterminds of this country - you know, the ones who are so smart they couldn't see the housing market fall through - don't see much financial benefit from yet another useless college student soon to graduate in PR, so I've had to set my sight on other things: three and four-letter words. If you've ever opened up the business or money section of a newspaper, you've likely faced a series of strange numbers and symbols that look like the schematics for a nuclear bomb. Oddly, it has nothing to do with bombs - though there is still plenty of mass destruction. It's actually a market report on how stocks are doing. This was where I was introduced to the three and fourletter words. In the world of stocks, apparently nobody can say the real name of a company - these were the same kids that had code names like Gimpy Leg Tim for their top [MSeeSTOCKS,page 7 JACKSON HEWITT TAX SERVICE Confused about taxes? Let us help you. At Jackson Hewitt, preparing taxes is what we do. We know all the latest tax laws and how they could impact your tax return. We'll dig deep and ask all the right questions, so you'll get every credit and deduction you deserve. Plus every paid tax return comes with Free Electronic Filing and our Basic Guarantee, It's your tax return, and we're here to help. 1047 S 100 W#A140 435-787-8399 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Also inside the Walmart during Tax Season. Call for an Appointment Today! at Jackson Hewitt location? iKjtd on when yen have u» prepare j9nr Federal p Slate tax returns. Not valid wifli any •<urr offer o r coupon. This coupon must""" presented and tax preparation fee MB k- Daid at tfa clime til'ta\ preparation^ Con " " — |