’40 Under 40′ – Mark Alcorn – Waddell & Reed Inc.

Mark Alcorn was born in Fresno, California and was raised by loving and hard-working parents. He fell in love with all sports at an early age and played soccer, basketball, baseball, and football.  After high school, he continued his education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and obtained a degree in mathematics and economics. While in Santa Barbara, he met and later married the love of his life, Kim.  They now live in Fresno and have two little girls.

Alcorn’s love for investments and competition led him to a career as a financial advisor immediately following his graduation from college.  Being a son of two small business owners, it had long been his desire to run and operate a business of his own.

Alcorn has spent the last 9-plus years of his career in the financial services industry, building a business and expanding his knowledge of the industry.  He began his career in 2004 with Morgan Stanley and obtained his Series 7, Series 66, Series 31 and CA Life & Health licenses.  It was here that he received much of his initial training surrounding asset allocation, diversification and Modern Portfolio Theory.  He obtained his Certified Financial Planner™ designation in 2007. In 2008, he explored an opportunity with Citigroup in which he was responsible for the coverage of a number of bank branches in the Central Valley.  The Citigroup experience is one that further enhanced his knowledge and led to greater understanding of alternative investments.  He went on to enroll in the CFA Institute’s Chartered Financial Analyst program in 2009.  He successfully passed the level I examination in 2010. In 2011, he embarked on his current role as the managing principal for the Fresno Office of Waddell & Reed.  He successfully earned his Series 24 designation in 2011.  As a producing branch manager, he is responsible for running his book of business, managing the advisors and staff, maintaining a budget, controlling profitability, training and mentoring new advisors as well as overseeing compliance and regulation.

Recently, Alcorn embarked on a new experience by joining the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Central Valley as a board member.

Favorite Movie:  “Field of Dreams”

Favorite Music Artist/Band:  Tim McGraw

Last Book Read:  “Good to Great:  Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins

Business Street Online’s “40 Under 40” Ultimate Networking Event honors and is attended by some of the top business professionals in the private and public sectors in central California who are under the age of 40.  The “40 Under 40” Ultimate Networking Event will be held on November 7, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Fresno Downtown.  For more information, please visit www.40u40.com.