Meet Tso-Hui Ting

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tso-Hui Ting a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tso-Hui, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Read books, especially those successful people’s autobiography. Meditation and self-awareness.
The universe treats all people equally. But our own mindset and vision decides who we are. Obstacles are stepping stone if we know our purpose and what we want to achieve.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I was born and grow up in Taiwan. After finished 4 years college degree in Biomedical Engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University, I served as a physician’s assistant in a destroyer of Taiwanese Navy. That two years of services is a great lifetime experience to me. Not only it toughen my mindset, also great knowledge of practical medical care for people learned from the services.

I came to US in 1989 for advanced degree. The first city I landed in US is Philadelphia, City Brotherly Love. I went to Drexel University and registered in Master program of Biomedical Engineering.
Before I came out to United States, me and my wife (who is my first girl friend knowing for 8 months) got married. With only one year’s financial support from my father, me and my wife worked hard in campus and in Chinatown to make up living expenses, and work full time as research assistant to support our tuition. In those two years, lots of challenges, such as language, cultural, financial, academic … I did feel beaten and down. Anyhow, I kept reminding myself, I have to hold it up, be tough, be strong. My life has just begun, and I have to move on. I promised to my wife to come to US, I need to keep my words.

After I got my master degree in Biomedical Engineer from Drexel University, I applied Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering in Temple University, Philadelphia. Luckily, I found Dr. Tom Sullivan as my advisor. He had funding on a semiconductor device project. Because the project, I need to drive to Bellcore Lab (Baby Bells) in Red Bank NJ from Philly. At that time, I had my first car, an old Honda Civic, which I spent $350 bought from an old lady. I bought the car just for my parents visit and staying for a month with us. I did not expect to drive long distance at all of that old Civic. However, because I want to take care of my parents, I bought the car. And because I have car, I had chance to get the project in Bellcore. I guess the universe rewards a good intention unintentionally.

The semiconductor project was finished in 1995. I am blessed that Temple University offered me one year fellowship to support me work on my Ph.D. dissertation. Meantime, me and my wife decided to have our baby since we finally see the light in a tunnel. I obtained my Ph.D. degree and my son was born in 1996. That was a exciting year, but also a challenge year. I needed a job! The US economy and job market had been soft for few years before 1996. It turned out in California job market started booming. high tech companies in Silicon Valley growing. Because my wife was working on her Ph.D. project in University of Delaware, and a baby at home. I struggled to look for a job in West Coast. I kept sending resumes and praying for a job offer in Tri States area. Again, I am blessed I got offer from IBM, Semiconductor Research and Development Center in Fishkill, NY. 3 hours driving distance to U.D. campus.

It’s a great working environment in SRDC IBM. The company treated their employee with respect, and the management team always put families first. I feel so lucky I worked in IBM for 18+ years and had my two kids grow up in a stable and safe condition. With all kinds of activities we are capable to offer them, without financially worry. I kept working hard and save hard in the years I worked. Fully funded 401k for my retirement and saved 519 for my kids college. During those years I worked in IBM, I went through 2000 dotcom bubble, 911 terrorist attack, and 2008 financial crisis. I did not feel strongly impacted in the year 2000 dotcom bubble market crash since I just started. However, in 2008, after saving 10 years, all of sudden more than $150k evaporated, from 401k and 529 accounts. I saw my IBM coworker who planed to retire had to continue working. Luckily high tech job did not get impacted much. 2008 is a wake up call for me to pay attention how money works, and how to grow and preserve my wealth. Since in 10 years there were two big crashes, I believed there will come again, but just don’t know when. (Well, it comes again with the tariff war …)
I thought when the next market crash happening, I don’t want my family being impacted. I want to keep a peace, an abundance life. Thus, I started to look for financial knowledge, and that is how I get myself transferred to be a financial service professional.
I appreciate IBM, who offers job supporting me to raise my family. However, a job is paycheck to paycheck. And the value of high tech really depends on how people use it.

Many families struggle financially. Many college graduates can not find jobs. Many employees loss their jobs while their retirement saving shrinks … I think everyone deserve a good financial education and knowing how to better manage their finance. Again, I am blessed that I have my own family finance well planned and managed. And I hope I can share what I learn and what I know to more people. To bring value to my friends, to my clients, to more people like us, hardworking middle income families.
Very often, people asks me why I quit IBM job and transferred field. I gave the following reason
1. build my own business – work for others is only earning paycheck by paycheck. My life is controlled by others.
2. help people to build wealth while building mine – bring value (knowledge + services) to families around me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Engineering – Logical Thinking and Problem Solving
Financial planning – analytical planning
People Skill – Listen and Empathy

Care and Kind to people. But stay firm on principal and value. Be true of yourself

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

YES.
People with integrity and care others. They has entrepreneur mindset and willing to collaborate.
They can send me an email “thting1788@gmail.com”

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