AxialHealthcare combines advanced analytics and expertise in pain management to improve the well-being of patients in pain. As CFO, Brad Rouse is responsible for traditional finance and accounting duties.
What letter grade would you give the current U.S. economy, and why? “B-.” We are in the midst of the second-longest bull market and investor optimism is at a high, but as they say in “Game of Thrones,” “Winter is coming.” We have a lot of things to be concerned about. The economy has been propped up by low interest rates and easy access to money. Stock valuations are at historic highs. Government debt levels are out of control, and the demographics of our population will continue to create strains on public and private resources.
What is the biggest mistake companies make with their finances? Raising too much money and too early. As a result, they often give up too much equity or create large equity return hurdles.
Is Bitcoin a fad or the future? Bitcoin and other electronic currencies will be around for the foreseeable future because of consumer demand, but I do not see those being the predominant form of currency in my lifetime.
What would you tell a college student looking for a career in finance? Be intentional about [your] career paths. Initially, they should look for a job that will allow them to learn new skills and sharpen existing ones, to contribute in a meaningful way, to be exposed to a variety of areas of the business and to interact with senior leaders.
If you could sit down with any finance expert for 10 minutes, who would you choose, and what would you talk about? I would sit down with Alexander Hamilton and ask him about his duel with Aaron Burr. In the unlikely event that we had any time remaining, I would ask about the behind-the-scenes details on the design of America’s financial system.