The website, which is the first of several planned media applications, is home to the Minyanville library of archives and definitions, a virtual shopping mall for branded merchandise and a schoolhouse that will soon teach the basic tenets of finance to the decision makers of tomorrow. And, as philanthropy is at the core of our belief system, you will also find information on the Ruby Peck Foundation for Children’s Education, which I founded in memory of my grandfather, who was my best friend.

While our content is now geared to a sophisticated audience, this is merely the first application of a much broader vision. We currently feature Hoofy the Bull and Boo the Bear as informational conduits in a scrolling, real-time forum that we call Buzz & Banter. The next-generation application, currently in development, will bring the characters to life and deliver a more dynamic and engaging message.

Horton Hears a How
In an age when lightening rounds can pass as value-added financial commentary, there is no such thing as a quick fix. Being told what to do with your money without understanding how or why does more harm than good as we struggle to navigate an increasingly complex market.

Also, an abundance of available information, coupled with increasingly persistent disinformation, makes it difficult to maintain poise amid the noise. Our attention-deficit society has been overwhelmed with mixed messages from a media oligopoly that is focused more on advertising revenue and ratings than what is, in many cases, best for their audience. I’ve often opined that in the absence of water, people are so thirsty that they’ll drink the sand.

Imagine Jon Stewart, Bill Maher and Shrek rolled into a cohesive and scalable platform, providing valuable market insight with snarky humor and cunning wit.

Minyanville is designed to act as a filter for existing news flow and as a forum for idea generation and exchange. It has also evolved into a community of human capital, featuring market professionals who are very good at what they do, but even better at who they are.

While the creative texture brands the Minyanville content, the integrity of our message provides roots that have attracted some of the most respected minds on Wall Street. An example is Kevin Wassong, the founder and former CEO of JWT’s digital arm. He was so taken with our mission and the potential of this platform to transcend media channels that he resigned from his position last March to work with us.

By bridging the gap between entertainment and information, the once staid world of Wall Street will emerge with fresh flavor and newfound verve. Imagine Jon Stewart, Bill Maher and Shrek rolled into a cohesive and scalable platform, providing valuable market insight with snarky humor and cunning wit. That charm will allow these critters–and, more importantly, their valuable market insight–to step through the looking glass and appeal to the mainstream demographic, right down to young children.

The markets are far from easy, and the collective frustration will manifest itself in the years ahead as we digest the post-bubble imbalances. The ability to filter and absorb pertinent information while surrounding ourselves with a trusted network will dictate our performance and lay the groundwork for our children’s future. Perhaps Minyanville’s approach is entirely unconventional, but that’s all right. It may be just what we need as we edge through these particularly unconventional times.