Richard Schechter has been involved in the securities trading industry for 28 years. He began his career as a floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange during the 1980’s, trading futures and options for his own account. During the 1990’s, he was also involved in training derivatives traders and marketing risk management systems in Europe to several major global banks. Also during that time, he managed a company specializing in options trading for high net worth families, a stock execution company operating on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and a systems development company specializing in electronic execution of stocks and options. More recently he has been involved in estate planning and portfolio design for high net worth families.  

Currently, as vice president of M. Gottlieb Associates and Howland International, Mr. Schechter is responsible for research in energy technology, global environmental issues, and the study of the geopolitical implications of oil and gas depletion. Along with Mr. Gottlieb, he is also involved with the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. 

Mr. Schechter has a B.A. degree in philosophy and economics from Lake Forest College, and is a life-long resident of Highland Park, Illinois.