About

About August Wolf

August Wolf is an Olympic athlete and seasoned financier with a diverse professional background spanning sports, finance, and politics. He has advocated for young athletes and led fundraising and supporting sports programs. He now brings his finance and business background into commercial title insurance, at the same supporting industry-wide inclusion in the commercial real estate industry. In addition, he is also an advisor to several federal candidates running for election in South Florida. 

The Making of a Champion

Wolf was born in Arlington, Virginia, on September 3, 1961. His father, Walter Wolf, was a U.S. Navy Officer and an English graduate from Georgetown, originally from Queens, New York. His mother, Isabel Wolf, graduated from Trinity College as a food scientist. August was the second child and the only son, with two sisters. His sister Isabel works in the classical music industry as a cellist and agent for opera singers and conductors, while Erika is an Art History Professor and a Princeton graduate.

During the Vietnam War, August’s family moved to Hawaii. Later, around 1968, the family settled in Minnesota when his mother took an academic position in Food Science at the University of Minnesota and his father a college teaching position in geography and anthropology.  

August’s Education Journey

August attended St. Paul Academy (SPA) in Minnesota, the same school that F. Scott Fitzgerald attended. At SPA, he was introduced to the sport of shot put by the Athletic Director Dave Montgomery, who believed August had a potential in throwing events. In 1979, he graduated from SPA and went on to attend Princeton University.

At Princeton, August studied at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs and graduated cum laude. He was also a vital member of the Princeton Track team, helping the team win multiple Ivy League and other titles. August set an Ivy League record in the shot put that still stands today, 41 years later. Although he started with a modest high school shot put record, August’s hard work paid off when he beat 8-time NCAA Champion and still current HS record-holder Mike Carter at the Men’s Outdoor Championship and U.S Olympic Trials. August made up a 27′ gap in five years thanks to great coaching and diligent hard work. 

The Road to Olympics

After graduating from Princeton, August earned a scholarship from the German Academic cgExchange Service (DAAD) to study at the University of Bonn in Germany from 1983 to 1984. He also trained for the 1984 Olympic Games in Leverkusen, Germany. August made notable progress and led the world rankings in the shot put. He won the U.S Indoor and Outdoor Championships and finished second in the Olympic Trials, earning a spot on the U.S Olympic Team at 23.

At the 1984 Olympics, August placed fourth in the shot put. Although disappointed with the result, he reflected that he needed to be fully prepared for the large audience and high-pressure environment. He later used the suffix “OLY” after his name, a designation encouraged by the International Olympic Committee for Olympians to signify his status.

Career Shifts

Following the Olympics, August began working at Kidder Peabody on the Chicago Board of Trade floor. He then moved to Dallas, Texas, and later to Northern California, where he attempted another shot at the Olympics. Unfortunately, a torn pectoral muscle six weeks before the Olympic Trials prevented him from qualifying, and despite not putting the shot for six weeks before the Trials, he missed the team by a few inches. In 1989, he placed fourth in the Indoor Worlds and shifted his focus to his career.

August then transitioned to a career in finance, working in Silicon Valley before moving back to New York to rejoin Kidder Peabody in a new fixed-income role. Over the years, he has worked with several financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Paine Webber, BNP Paribas, Lazard, and Mitsubishi UFJ. In 2017, August chose a new professional path in commercial real estate, an industry he was always curious about. He quickly established several relationships with deal sponsors and lenders as a commercial title agent. August now represents Langdon Title, a top New York City agency. 

Support for Athletics and Community Involvement

August aimed to foster athletic excellence in his family and community. His children achieved commendable success in sports, with his son AJ becoming a New York State Champion in shot put and discus and being a standout player and defensive captain of the Duke Football team. Son Alexander was Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year in Connecticut and received scholarship offers from 20 Division One basketball programs. His daughter, Abbie, chose Northwestern for its mix of academics and athletics and led the team to a Big Ten Championship during her senior year.

August also served as the head of fundraising for the Friends of Princeton Track from 1995 to 2015, substantially increasing donations to the program. He supported student-athletes through charitable efforts, including founding the U.S. Athletic Trust, which helped over 100 athletes train for the Olympics.

Entering the Political Arena

After leaving Wall Street, August turned his attention to politics. Inspired by billionaire David Koch, he ran for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2016. He faced challenges and efforts from within the Connecticut GOP, which eventually prevented him from being on the primary ballot.

After his political campaign, several friends and supporters encouraged August to transition into working in commercial real estate and title insurance. He continues to leverage his political experience by supporting candidates in South Florida who face challenges similar to those he faced when running for the U.S. Senate. 

Focus on Opportunity 

August has always promoted transparency, and access to opportunity, and excellence for all Americans. 

In 2024, August Wolf started Mission Opportunity, a non-profit organization promoting inclusion in the real estate supply chain, which is mainly un-diverse despite serving very multi-ethnic populations. He works with Langdon Title, a top independent title agency in New York City, offering sponsors and lenders a competitive advantage in their property closings and refinancings.