Our Team: Jackson Tidswell
“Jackson Of All Trades?”
Jackson apologises for the crash-course in investment concepts, parlance and key figures that he’s just fast-balled me. With brow furrowed in thought, he summarises. “Buffet. Klarman. Munger. Graham. The four, all-time greats.” as I scramble to record the names.
The onslaught isn’t over — “I want you to summarise this in three words for me,” the interviewee requests playfully.
“That’s not possible.”
“Good one,” Jackson says with his trademark grin.
The peppy investment analyst sits across from me as we converse about his journey to Bailey Roberts Group (BRG). The first bombshell comes with the disclosure of his age — 25-year-old. “People think that I’m, like, 30,” he exclaims, acknowledging my thinly veiled surprise. We circle back to his upbringing, and Jackson speaks with a characteristic friendly demeanour.
“Dad made an effort to ensure I was exposed to business at a young age,” he begins. His father’s local electrical engineering company meant Jackson was “always able to go to his workplace and meet all the ‘business-people.’” Here he learnt about their unique roles and duties, fostering an early interest in the world of business.
At school, between a whirlwind of downtime spent at the beach, playing soccer, golf and basketball, Jackson found that financial concepts were “something that came easy to me.” He qualifies that with “-just because I was exposed to them at such a young age.” I suspect he’s being humble.
“I found it very intriguing.”
The stocky young man’s final years of education were formative, moving at age 15. “I went up to Sydney, to a boarding school called Scots College, and I was there for three years,” he recalls. “What Scots taught me was self-discipline… and self-improvement. Very much ‘if you do the work, the results will reflect on you.’”
Having recently enjoyed one of his twinkle-eyed Scot’s reminiscences that suggested anything but self-discipline, Jackson promises “it was a school that very much promoted that anyone can do anything if you put your mind to it — it’s more about effort than anything.”
After graduating from Scot’s, Jackson made the move back down the coast. “I’ve always wanted to be in Wollongong — after three years in Sydney, I realised that city isn’t for me. I like open spaces — it helps me think, and there aren’t many in Sydney.”
Jackson’s attraction to the business world had grown and seen him enrol in a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics major) at the University of Wollongong. “I took a very big interest in economics. I’ve always been curious about how the world turns,” he remarks. “[It is] the interactions of people every day, on the business and household level. It was something I was attracted to.”
It’s hard not to get caught up in Jackson’s genuine, infectious enthusiasm for his field of expertise.
“Once I started working here [at BRG], I realised I needed to just keep improving.”
While studying, Jackson worked for the Department of Human Services. During his four-and-a-half-year tenure he occupied a myriad of roles — ranging fraud investigations, family tax benefits and new claims. “A bit of a jack-of-all-trades,” he offers.
“Jackson-of-all-trades,” I counter.
Irresistible.
Jackson continues candidly, “I was exposed to a wide range of Australians. These were people that were calling us up in their hour of need. It exposed me to… a side of Australia that is struggling.
“Country towns that are dealing with loss of jobs, and people trying to find their way in this new economy. It settled me, a bit.”
With the financial sector typically orbiting a “big-business bubble,” Jackson acknowledges that many of his contemporaries haven’t had similar experiences.
“It keeps me grounded.”
Between work and university commitments, Jackson and his partner decided to go travelling after two years of studying at UOW, in what would again be “a very eye-opening experience. I’d never been exposed to such a culture shock… when I went to North Africa, the Middle East — developing countries.
“I look back on [the trip] and think it was very, very beneficial for me to do that.”
After a vivid recollection of, and adulation for, the crystal-clear Croatian waters, round-island cycling and indulgent dining, I probe him on what the most shocking cultural experience was on his backpacking trip.
“Hmm...”
“When we got in the cab in Morocco,” he begins, “it was an old Mercedes Benz — the Prince must have bought 200,000 of these things — they were all through Morocco, cruising about. It was old, run-down, but still a nice car.” A natural storyteller, Jackson know how to draw you in and set the scene.
“We were swamped. By people, just tapping on the cars… It’s a different world over there, every dollar they can get counts. Especially in that part of the city.”
Jackson briefs me on the divide in the region; the reality that many historical sites are nestled in the slums of “the old city,” while the rich individuals live in “the new city” away from most of the destitution and suffering. His earnest respect and sympathy for the region is clear.
“There’s resentment there… There’s resentment there.”
After a brief pause he adds “We were cursed at. Mainly,” with the hint of a smile, “… they thought we were American.” He concedes and allows a laugh.
After graduation, Jackson found himself at a crossroads. He was poised to do what many graduates did — move to Sydney and join the rat race. But he had “a bit of time before the graduate programs opened up,” and wanted to find some local work experience first. “Dad said ‘give Ian [Bailey] a call and see if you can come in.’” he recalls.
Jackson’s father happened to be a long-time BRG client, and it wasn’t long before Jackson was brought aboard. “We quickly found we were on the same page with a lot of things… our approach to business and everyday tasks; making sure that we were morally aligned.” With his eye-opening Human Services and backpacking experiences, Jackson appreciated the company’s strong value of transparency and a shared social conscience.
“It’s a testament, that we have such long-term clients.”
After several months working with the team, they were impressed. “They asked me if I wanted to work here full-time and I took the opportunity with open arms.” When asked about what stands out to him working at BRG, Jackson is proud that clients “aren’t seen as just a number.
“[BRG advisors] have developed very long-term relationships with clients, and they honestly care for the families that they’ve been servicing for twenty years,” he states.
“At the end of the day, because we care for these clients — we want to protect their capital and make sure they have long-term income streams to live off. [As such] we tend to be more conservative in our approach [to investing].” To illustrate, Jackson points to the BRG policy of having underlying holdings held in client’s own names.
“That’s one of the reasons my father has been here for twenty years — and he recommends people here.”
Being a comparably slimmer, more agile business, Jackson also values the relative autonomy and trust placed on him whilst still having support from a very experienced team. Compared to larger investment banking opportunities in Sydney, Jackson had quickly been “exposed to a broad range of industries, and portfolio construction,” whilst being able to enjoy the coastal lifestyle.
Jackson started “just feeding information” to the team while learning the ropes but has grown to manage the International Equities and “a third of the Australian Equities.” This includes screening for new potential additions to these portfolios, a process that engages his critical thinking skills every day.
“We’re looking for quality business at quality prices; not quality businesses at expensive prices,” he summarises for me. “We’re looking to determine what the intrinsic value is.”
It’s no small feat. As part of the rigorous screening process, Jackson and the team seek interviews with management, talk to the business’ suppliers and customers to understand the business model and likely “revenue certainty.” To finish, Jackson adds “We’re looking for businesses with models that are hard to recreate.”
Jackson is also studying to achieve “one of the most highly-regarded qualifications you can have in the investment community,” his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) qualification. With a befittingly difficult 60% failure rate, the three-year course is one of the hardest to complete.
“Once I started working here [at BRG], I realised I needed to just keep improving.”
I ask Jackson what famous figure he’d like to meet. “If I had dinner with anyone, and this is going to sound really lame but–, ” he starts.
“It’s going to be an investment analyst, isn’t it?”
“Yep — Ray Dalio,” he says, unphased and with smile emerging.
Dalio’s book ‘Principles’ has inspired Jackson through the billionaire philanthropic investor’s mindfulness and broader perspective on the world. “He understands that there’s an increasing wealth gap in the States — he’s been a beneficiary of that.
“[But] he’s committed to giving back most of his wealth over time.” Jackson explains sincerely. “He’s concerned about everyday Americans.”
It’s a lazy Wednesday afternoon. Jackson has repeatedly deflected requests for his ‘proudest achievement.’ Reaching an impasse, I corner him in the break room before he can slink off with his coffee.
“I’m just asking, simply, for a proud moment.”
“I don’t want to sound up myself,” he sighs, once again skirting the benign request and eyeing the exit. I mention his recent adoption of two puppies. He lights-up and gleefully recounts their recent graduation from “puppy preschool.”
“They got them to wear a little graduation cap!” he says, grinning.
That’ll have to do.
