THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508080085
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CLOSE-UP
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Ever wonder where your money really goes?
Pete Virok has a way of making you sit down and account for every dollar. Painful as it may be for some folks, Pete can take that information, analyze it and find ways to make your money work better for you.
He's been giving financial advice through American Express Financial Advisors Inc. since 1988, when he left the Coast Guard.
While stationed in Portsmouth with the Coast Guard, Virok began work on his master's degree in business. Then business opportunities lured him away from the service.
Pete has settled in a home in Little Neck with his Labrador retriever.
Full name: Peter S. Virok.
Hometown: I was an Army brat and lived in numerous states growing up. I was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., but spend the majority of my youth in Levittown, Pa.
What brought you to the Beach? The Coast Guard. I graduated from Officer Candidate School in Yorktown in 1980 and had two other tours in Portsmouth on the cutter Harriet Lane and in the Rescue Coordination Center.
Birthdate: May 6, 1958.
Occupation: Senior financial adviser and partner with Ritter, Stouffer, Virok and Van Hoy, a division of American Express Financial Advisors Inc. I'm also a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard Reserve.
Nickname: Pete.
Marital status: Single, never been married and looking.
Children: Only my four-legged friend.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Getting up early and taking a long bike ride to clean out my system. After lunch you'd find me putting the top down on my convertible and driving to the beach to play some volleyball followed by adult beverages and dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.
Last smart thing you did: I started giving back to my community by volunteering my time to the Seton House, an organization for troubled youth.
Last dumb thing you did: Left my driver's license at the YMCA for the last week.
Favorite meal: Etouffee over rice with crawdads and a cold beer.
Favorite movies: ``A Christmas Story'' by Gene Shepheard.
Favorite song: ``Let it go, let it flow'' by Dave Mason.
Last book read: ``Apocalypse Watch'' by Robert Ludlam. Currently reading ``Rainmaker'' by John Grisham.
Hobbies: Training my hunting retriever, playing both indoor and beach volleyball, golf and swimming at the YMCA with the Virginia Masters Swim Team.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My nearsightedness.
Secret vice: Nothing I can put into print.
Favorite restaurant: Casual dining, Coyote Cafe. Elegant dining, Le Chambord. If I go to Norfolk, The Dumbwaiter.
Your favorite night on the town: Dinner at one of my favorite restaurants followed by dancing at a local club.
Favorite TV shows: Must see TV on Thursdays (i.e. ``Friends'' & ``Seinfeld'') and ``Wall Street Week.''
Favorite sport: College football, volleyball or basketball, especially when Penn State plays.
Last vacation: Spent a week and a half in southern Florida, specifically South Miami Beach and Key West enjoying the beach and scuba diving.
Pets: Hershey's Muddy Water, my 3-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever.
Worst job: Pumping gas at a Hess station in Pennsylvania when I was 16.
Of what achievements are you most proud? Helping to form our group financial planning practice.
What would you like as your epitaph? He worked hard to be the man his dog always knew he was. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
by CNB