All proceeds from the sale of the book, ‘A Humanitarian’s Defense of Capitalism,’ will benefit medical care for impoverished countries.
Submitted by Michelle Bonner
In a moving and powerful description of the two worlds in which he lives, West Hartford business owner Paul R. Martel reveals in a new book a unique and significant perspective on economic life at an important time in our country’s history.
In his new book, A Humanitarian’s Defense of Capitalism: The Paradigm of Freedom, Martel, who is the founder of YHB Investment Advisors, Inc., an investment advisory firm, gives readers an in-depth look and introspection into his life as a capitalist and his life as a humanitarian.
As the founder of a successful investment management firm, Martel is a capitalist. In his “other” life Martel is a humanitarian who brings medical care to some of the world’s poorest communities rooted in largely socialist countries that are abominably broken and flushed in extreme poverty, violence and hopelessness. His intention for writing this book is to inspire Americans to better understand, appreciate and utilize the economic system that is in place and to bring about change.
“The tradition of capitalism is grounded in basic freedom,” says Martel. “As Americans we are free to choose our own career path. Our own unique abilities, ambition, experience and success dictates our financial reward. That is not the case in the countries in which I provide medical care; countries that are drenched in socialism and failure where the government makes the decisions for everyone.”
Paul Martel holds Yvonne. Submitted photo
The book explores the paradigms of freedom and socialism in these two explicitly different worlds and why Martel is frightened that America is at great risk of jeopardizing its legacy and that freedom as we know it today will one day soon become simply a part of our history.
“We have a socialist presidential candidate right now drawing extraordinarily enthusiastic crowds. People are listening to what Bernie Sanders is saying. His message is that the role of government is to ensure income equality and that no one should have more than anyone else. Well, without prosperity I cannot bring medical care to the poor; without prosperity our country will have no social contract nor the quality of life we are used to.”
Paul Martel surrounded by children. Submitted photo
A Humanitarian’s Defense of Capitalism: The Paradigm of Freedom pushes readers to explore the consequences of a socialist society and to better understand how capitalism makes our world a better place. By recounting countless personal experiences, many pulled from his first book: To The Least of These My Brothers: Essays on Humanitarian Work With Children (a heartwarming collection of essays capturing the intensity of the emotion, cultural discovery, challenges and rewards in providing humanitarian medical care to third-world children) Martel provides a unique and personal narrative of the stark realities that flow from a socialist paradigm and explains the background and potential of our own paradigm of freedom. “I want to inspire Americans to better understand, appreciate and take advantage of the economic system we are gifted to have and use it to bring about the change we wish to see in the world. I am so blessed to live in a country that affords me the opportunity to help others who are completely hopeless.”
All profits from the sale of this book will be used to support the work of FIBUSPAM in Ecuador to bring medical care to the poor. A Humanitarian’s Defense of Capitalism: The Paradigm of Freedom can be purchased on Amazon for $8.99.
About the Author
Paul R. Martel is the founder and President of YHB Investment Advisors, Inc. (www.yhbia.com) in West Hartford. The company was founded in 1989 and currently manages over $1 billion for a variety of individuals, families and institutions.
Martel has been involved in humanitarian work for nearly two decades, organizing more than 20 surgical missions to Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay. He has assisted in bringing a dozen children to the U.S. for life saving surgery.
In 2007, Martel founded a medical clinic in Riobamba, Ecuador that has grown into a fully accredited multi-specialty surgery center serving the poor. In 2013, Martel founded his own non-profit foundation in Ecuador named Fundacion Internacional
Martel is the author of “To The Least of These My Brothers” a collection of essays about his humanitarian work with children.
Martel was honored in 2010 by Investment News and the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation with their Community Leadership Award for Global Community Impact.
Martel is also the founder and President of YHB Charitable Endowment, Inc. a 501C3 that offers donor advised funds to the public to encourage charitable giving.
