Forty Under 40: Michael Britt

A portfolio manager with Fayetteville’s Greenwood & Associates, 27-year-old Michael Britt said he was born with a natural knack for numbers.

“It’s how I think. It’s what I’m good at,” he said. “It just clicked with me.”

The investment firm allows Britt to combine his natural ability to crunch numbers with his interest in learning.

During his four years at the University of Arkansas, he earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance. Britt said the accounting concepts that he learned helped develop his ability to invest.

He also worked for three years to become a chartered financial analyst. Candidates study independently for a year before taking a part of the three-level test.

“It’s becoming a must-have credential,” Britt said.

In January of 1999, Britt joined Greenwood & Associates as a research analyst. Now he is one of three people at the firm who select securities for client purchase.

Academia taught Britt to enjoy the research that accompanies constantly-changing investment figures, and he has made a career of learning.

Britt volunteers with several community organizations, including the Fayetteville Public Education Board.