Ryan received his BBA with concentration in both Finance and Marketing with Honors from James Madison University in 2000 and was also inducted as a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society.  He spent his final two years in college conducting stock research and market analysis for Houlihan Financial Resource Group, Ltd.  Ryan passed the CFA Level I exam, the first of three exams required to hold the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.  He serves as Director of Equity Research and as a Portfolio Manager.  Ryan is also a member of the Investment Committee.

In October 2009 Ryan married Melissa R. Houlihan, a scientist and Customer Relations Manager with Lockheed Martin.  They have two dogs, Roxy and Gus, and live in the Ashburn, Virginia area.