This all started with Portfolio Degree, which was originally inspired back in 2011 when our founder was going to grad school. Over the years, as someone who had always been interested in data and analytics, he built computer models to test his theories about stock trading.
When everything was shutdown in 2020, he had more time at home and was able to improve his models and build some initial ways to test his theories. By the fall of 2022, it dawned on him to turn everything into a training platform, so he started building. During that time, he realized he was going to self-publish the materials and as a result, he founded Tool Shed Publishing.
Over the past few years as more materials and pieces of technology were completed, Tool Shed Publishing quickly established a solid foundation to grow from. All inspired from the an entreprenural spirit of our founder.
As a business, we're here to provide learning services either through our platforms or to large groups through events showcasing our materials and technology.
Our growth will come from focusing on the growth of our communities and the culture and values that we promote. Our success is defined by your success.
Right now we are focused on growth and helping to bring our products and services to a broader audience. Stay tuned, we're just getting started.
We are a company dedicated to finding and providing learning materials for others that help make complex concepts easier to understand and apply. That means that we are all about the empowerment of individuals through learning.
We believe that the world functions best when we're all working together so we try to design our offerings in a way that can resonate with anyone, no matter your background or prior experience. That's not easy but life is all about the challenges that present theselves and how you overcome them.
We're a small privately held company with large ambitions, by clearly defining our values that will help us attract others who share in our mission and wish to help in the growth and development of others.
Transparency: We are here to build trust through honest communication and upfront costs.
Security & Privacy: We protect your personal data and our data systems with strong cybersecurity measures and compliance with data protection laws.
Ethics & Integrity: In an effort to avoid conflicts of interest we do not have advertising on our sites. This is to ensure that any reporting reflects accuracy and is not a paid result.
Customer Focus: Our platforms and products are designed with you in mind and we tailor our products to meet a diverse variety of needs. We are always seeking ways to improve accessibility and improve access.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility: All of our materials are available digitally in an effort to reduce paper consumption. We recognize that servers and smart devices still require energy and we're always looking for ways to offset the resources required for our organization to exist. Balance is key to sustainability.
Innovation & Adaptability: The mission is never done. We are always looking for ways to enhance our product offerings. When you purchase our products we want you to feel comfortable that you'll receive support and access for years to come.
Reliability: Feedback is important to us and we take it seriously. If a customer comes to us with a complaint we are always looking for ways to enhance their experience, even if we can't immediately resolve the issue.
Inclusivity: Our services are designed to impact communities that typically don't have access to the knowledge that we present. As such, we recognize our impact is based on how well we can reach that audience with our message. If we find that our materials have barriers, we will work to remove those barriers to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to learn.
Learning is never complete. We need to continue to learn and grow to overcome the next chapters in our lives. We hope that through our values we can push boundaries and develop strengths in one another so that we can all overcome the challenges together.
Founder & Managing Partner
Matthew J. Franklin
Matt started his Finance journey by earning a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 2008. In 2010, after a few years gaining work experience, he decided to go back and earn a MBA. He attended Georgia State University and graduated in 2014 with a dual concentration in Economics and Finance.
Prior to college both his father and grandfather spent time working for brokerages and he always thought it would be fun to manage people's investments. That's what started him down this path then it was while he was in grad school where he had the idea that started all of this. Ultimately, he just wants to make it easy to learn how to trade stocks.
Before Portfolio Degree, Matt's professional background was in Corporate Finance, most recently as a Manufacturing Plant Controller for Stellantis.
One of the best parts of working in the auto industry was coming to a workplace where everyone rolled up their sleves and did what it took to get the job done. That type of grit is inspiring but all too often in his conversations with colleagues, stocks would come up.
As he became more comfortable sharing his idea he realized that it resonated with a lot of people. Mostly those with little to no Finance background. Knowing that, he decided to dedicate himself to making it become a reality. It took about five years to get here and even though you can access and use everything, to Matt, what we have is just a foundation to build from and only the beginning.
With a corporate finance background and experience as a leader in plant settings, Matt is no stranger to hard work and overcoming obstacles. Innovation is key to survival in a plant setting and it's what helps him consistently meet the needs of those around him. He is an excellent leader and we're lucky to have him at the helm of Tool Shed Publishing.
We are not currently hiring but if you feel your skills align with what we do or you would like to build on our mission, reach out to support@PortfolioDegree.com and we'll work with you to find out if there's a potential fit.
Be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn or through your favorite social media platform. We're always happy to connect with our supporters and it can help you stay up to date with our latest events and projects.
