Gerald laughed good-naturedly.
"So, Richie, there's one last question left to be answered. How are you planning to continue your education?"
- Dad, I want to continue my studies as an external student, taking exams for several classes every year.
- Richie, won't business interfere with your studies?
"No. I'll have a strict schedule. Work before lunch, then a section or an economics tutor afterward, then school. Besides, I don't plan on doing business every day. As you can imagine, I just need to keep up with the latest news and occasionally place orders to buy or sell securities. I'll be in the office and meeting people even less often.
"Sounds logical and reasonable," Gerald drawled, looking thoughtful. "Hmm... Richie, I fully support you. You'll have external studies, an office, and tutors!"
***
The day after his conversation with his father, Richie was settling into his office. The room, as Gerald had promised, was small, one might even say very small. Two by three meters, windowless, but well-lit. It contained very little furniture: a desk with an office telephone on it, a comfortable chair for the boy (high enough to bring the child's eyes level with adult visitors), and a comfortable chair for visitors, albeit only one.
Apparently, this space was once a storage room, quickly converted into an office. However, the room was located on the ground floor of the Rich Group office. A sign hung on the door:
Richard Rich
The first visitor to this office was Dan Silver. A thirty-five-year-old man of average height with short, buzzed black hair. He had sharp cheekbones and a keen, brown gaze, hidden behind oblong glasses.
Mr. Silver was dressed in a brown suit, with leather patches sewn onto the elbows of his jacket, which were already slightly worn.
The man sat in the visitor's chair, slightly nervous. He hadn't expected such an increase in work and didn't know what to expect from the little boy.
"So, Mr. Silver," Richard began, "I've been told that you have a good understanding of investments.
"I dare hope that this is so," the man answered dryly.
Richie decided not to beat around the bush and get straight to the point:
- What can you say about the Finnish company Nokia?
"Never heard of it, sir," Mr. Silver shrugged. "But... if you'll allow me to make a few calls, I can tell you about this company."
- Here's the phone.
Richie pushed the phone toward the man. Dan made a few calls and spoke with specialists from the company's European branch. Richard couldn't hear the answers, so he waited.
After hanging up the phone, Dan looked at the boy and said:
"Sir, I've found out about Nokia. It's an old company that's been around for a long time. They used to manufacture rubber products, cables, electronics, wood processing, and power generation. They had several secondary industries: hunting rifles, plastics, and chemicals. Now they also manufacture shoes, televisions, generators, robotics, and military communications equipment. Two years ago, the company's main activity became consumer electronics and telecommunications equipment. That's not all. If you need more detailed information, I can get it.
"That's enough for now," Richie drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "I heard you asking about this company's stock..."
"Yes, sir," Mr. Silver nodded. "I thought you might be interested in this information."
- That's right, Mr. Silver, I'm very interested in that.
- Their shares are currently worth a little over seventeen American cents apiece. To be more precise, a stack of one hundred shares is worth seventeen dollars and sixty cents.
"Mr. Silver, wait for Nokia shares to hit their lowest point and buy up every available one," Richard issued his first order. "According to my information, that will be around fall next year. These shares will need to be added to a long-term portfolio for approximately ten years."