About
About the Blog:
In retentis is latin for “among things held back.” In the legal sense, in retentis refers to evidence and or court documents that are kept separately from the regular records for special reasons. This expression is most prevalent in Scottish courts. Think inadmissible evidence. Applying this esoteric latin term in a modern context, one could say the good stuff (top shelf liquor, cuban cigars, etc…) is held in retentis.
In retentis, you will find relevant information from the view point of a law student as it relates to finance and investing, energy, real estate, law school, and whatever else looks good. These topics interest me and are intended for the general education and benefit others.
About the Creator:
Dining at the Hancock
Kyle St. Romain, that’s me, is a fun loving guy who strives for greatness and success – though I haven’t quite figured out what that means yet.
Born in Mandeville, Louisiana – I am a southerner at heart. I love Louisiana. It is so backwards and different than any other place on the planet. New Orleans is a city with many problems that still manages to maintain a devout following, and this intrigues me. Though, having lived in Texas for the duration of my college experience and sometime afterwards, I must say that I could happily be a Texas transplant. I like to spend my time between Fort Worth and Austin, getting a taste for two distinct Texan cultures. I’d also like to live in Chicago and on the California coast.
In the words of Woody Hayes, “I’ve had smarter people around me all my life, but I haven’t run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can’t outwork you, then smarts aren’t going to do them much good. That’s just the way it is. And if you believe that and live by it, you’d be surprised at how much fun you can have.”
I apply this philosophy in my every day living and have found that cutting loose is much more rewarding when you have a lot of hard work going behind it. I think working hard is what keeps you happy at the bars. It gives you uplifting conversation and a sense of purpose in the midst of the late night mayhem. Okay, so I do enjoy a good drink. Guilty as charged.
I obtained my BBA from Texas Christian University, focusing on Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate. Though, I began my collegiate career undecided, I settled on this course of study because I feel that a college education should provide its students with practical information that can be readily applied in the real world. Business is the game of life and we accumulate points in the form of money - pretty clear decision there. Having a business background and a knack for manipulating numbers has helped me immensely since graduation.
I took a year off after graduation to pursue a career in equities trading at a firm in Austin, TX. This was the right decision for me at the time. I became infatuated with the financial markets towards the end of my Junior year, though right before graduation I had a second thoughts when a real estate professor explained how he thought the equity markets were boring. He argued that stock valuation is too public and real estate is more fun as it’s value is malleable – any piece of land can have a substantially different value depending on who’s looking at it. To one, an abandoned warehouse isn’t worth the value of the land it’s built on. To another it’s the future site of high-end loft living.
So, I played in the equity markets post graduation at one of the most defining moments in the history of the stock market. While the equity trading didn’t work out for me in the long run, I gained invaluable insights into the daily market behavior: that it is run by a bunch of smelly guys sitting in dark rooms, in front of computer screens, laughing at videos on YouTube and playing ping pong. There is nothing tangible about equity trading, except maybe the Aston Martin DB9 my neighbor had or the 7 figure checks many other traders were bringing home.
Regardless, it bothered me that there was no work outside my computer station or real need for human interaction, so I left in search of greener pastures – and a reliable paycheck. Long story short, I took the plunge and applied for law school. I always knew law school would be in the cards for me. I had taken the LSAT in my senior year of undergrad in preparation for this. I am grateful for my sabbatical, as this time served as a much needed recharge before law school. Life experiences are what make us who we are and I am definitely a better rounded person for having this year of experience before gong back to school.
Another inspirational moment in my life was in a different real estate class. In the capstone class, my professor said that when he first got involved with real estate deals, a particular bank in Texas had an in-house lawyer who they called the “Barracuda.” Nobody ever knew what he did – speculating he probably had a low handicap – but when a problem arose, he was the man to fix it. In other words, he was what happened when they called out the big guns. I yearn to be a “Barracuda.”
While money isn’t everything, it sure doesn’t hurt to have it. I have expensive hobbies and an insatiable appetite for the good life. I hope that through my work I can help others, myself and my family, and the world at the same time. Environmental reform is coming, if it’s not already here. I feel that a law degree focusing on environmental issues is a good way to prepare for this inevitable change.
Hope you enjoy my site, it has been quite the learning experience as this is my first legitimate website. Feel free to drop me a line or leave a comment. I’m always open to ideas or suggestions on how to make the site better.
- Kyle