this is terribly sad news. MF is a mountain of integrity and changed the landscape of the mortgage industry. He helped countless thousands of people with his business savvy and acumen for creating wealth, not only for NLY but for average investors. Our prayers go out to him and his family.
All our best to the Farrell and NLY families. Has a way of putting things in perspective doesn't it. Imagine Michael may have had input on the recent buy back program at NLY as one of his final contributions... and hope that leads to a big rise in NAV for NLY and other mREIT shares in the coming year.
I'm shocked and saddened that he passed so quickly. I assumed he had taken a turn for the worst when NLY announced the co-CEO. I didn't think it would be this soon; I figured he was just stepping away for a little while to focus on his treatment as he had before. He built a heck of a company in Annaly. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. We lost a great man in the finance industry this morning.
Amen to all the previous comments. Mike Farrell was a giant in the industry, a straight shooter who applied conservative principles and never stepped outside his comfort zone to shill for NLY when it was not deserved. Those of us who have seen a difference in our lifestyle due to the financial rewards he generated to shareholders owe him a debt of gratitude. The lyrics to a certain gospel song say, "If I can help someone as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain." Mike Farrell was that kind of person, and he will not be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends. Mike Farrell's legacy will be the strong management team he leaves behind.
Our condolences to the Farrell family and to the NLY family. I know that his intelligence and integrity will be missed. I wish that I had known him personally.
Boy everyone is right ...just heard he was going to take some time to deal with this and now hes gone. Condolences to all his family and friends...sad news.
My co-workers wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer shes 34 years old and has a 8, 6, and 2 year old. Such a sad ordeal. I couldn't think of many worse way to go out. Hope she beats it
It is always sad to hear these stories. Sorry about Mr. Farrell's demise and now this young mother and her battle with breast cancer. Being a survivor myself (9 years)of MCL, I wonder if something I say may be helpful for someone going through similar ordeals. There are tons of information on the Web about conventional and non-conventional therapies. Prayer, Family, Friends, and Chemotherapy at Mayo Clinic worked for me. I also receive E-mails about the self treatment that Suzanne Sommers did! We beat it and so can this young lady!!
How sad! Here is a giant in industry and business that did well, fantastically so, and fate has cut him down in the prime of his ability and life. Just goes to prove that life isn't fair!!
My condolences to his family. I have held positions in companies he was involved with for a long time. I have heard nothing but positive things about Mike and have yet to hear anything negative. He was a BIG and GREAT man!
I have been a beneficiary of his leadership in the industry for years and have made NLY a major portion of my net worth. II have never commented in this column and always enjoyed the back and forth from the public and how this company brought out the best and worst from many of the contributors. NLY became a subject that brought out many opinions, like religion and politics. It is comforting to see that this is the 1st time in my memory that there are nothing but positive and uplifting comments from everyone. I hope that it last longer than 1 day.
Such sad news for the Farrell family - Mike was only 61 and still at the top of his game. He will always be remembered as one of the greats and a pioneer in the mortgage REIT industry.
This is SA at its very best; different people rallying behind an obviously great man and icon in business. I am a proud shareholder in Annaly and will continue to be as long as management continues Mr. Farrell's principles!
Michael did so much for the financial security of so many. His financial and business acumen were boundless. At the same time he never lost sight of the things that really matter in this life - things like integrity, the courage to always do what is right and a genuine and deep-seated caring for the welfare of others. His legacy will live on for a long, long time.
Condolences to the Farrell family. An icon in his field, Mr. Farrell will long be remembered for his expertise and leadership of NLY. I am sure that he left a strong management team to further his dreams of for the company.
Michael Farrell's passing has saddened me. I inherited a trust and the cash assets grew to somewhere around $130,000 before my brother relapsed into cocaine and gambling and embezzled and spent up that small fortune. It was especially hard on me because I survive on a Social Security disability. Eventually, little miracles occurred and I secured pro bono counsel from a major law firm that assisted me in suing my brother and obtaining a judgment against him. The court ordered my brother to resign as sole remaining trustee of my trust. A newly court-appointed trustee was sworn in to take over and manage my trust. We are still in the process of recovering on the judgment. Upon recovering a certain amount we initially deposited that into one year CDs that were producing 5% interest at the time. This was solely to cover the salary of the trustee and the trusts expenses so I wouldn't lose any of the trusts principle. After the downturn in the economy the money market and CD interest rates became so small that any returns were slight and wouldn't significantly support the trusts growth. My newly appointed trustee at that time suggested we move the trusts assets into some stocks with healthy dividends. I began to research dividend stocks and eventually we bought into Annaly and Chimera. I don't blindly buy stocks like picking horses at the racetrack. Any and all information I could find about Annaly pointed to Mr. Farrell's quality leadership. Any other information and news was always supportive of his ability, experience, and quality as CEO of Annaly. I didn't know him personally. Because he was the CEO of a company that I substantially invested in I began to pray for him and Annaly as well as Chimera and FIDAC. Scriptures says "to live is Christ, and to die is gain". To those of us that believe "whether we live or die we are the Lord's". In the old testament it says "the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth". I opened a book written by a great man of God and immediately focused on a sentence that I never forgot. It said "I can but thank God for them that are asleep". Michael Farrell's work and mission is done upon this earth. Our entire lives are a vapor.Compared to eternity we live the smallest fraction of a moment upon this earth. Whether we live 100 years or a few short hours. It's what we do in that life that matters. I will continue to pray for FIDAC and it's management team that they will continue to follow Mr. Farrell's example of ethics,integrity, and soundness of purpose and Annaly will go on being the great and trustworthy corporation and trust that it is.
You helped my family immeasurably for the last several years. Thank you for the great company and it's benefits to all of us. Our love to your family and friends.., and to you.
I have admired Mike Farrell, especially since his contribution for the new building, Farrell Hall, for Wake Forest University's Schools of Business. I have owned NLY shares several times in the last couple of years.
Wake Forest will be forever changed due to his generosity and vision for the development of future leaders who lead with character and integrity. A great man whose life example will continue to impact future generations. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family.
This news story has 40 comments:
Has a way of putting things in perspective doesn't it.
Imagine Michael may have had input on the recent buy back program at NLY as one of his final contributions... and hope that leads to a big rise in NAV for NLY and other mREIT shares in the coming year.
Bless his heart.
I know that his intelligence and integrity will be missed.
I wish that I had known him personally.
RIP Michael Farrell
unfortunately a terrible and shocking reaction on Wall ST. Mon AM
for the company.