Hello, @theblondebros, and Welcome to Steemit.

As a teacher / editor / writer, I can assure you that you CAN write, and that your writing is readable. Eminently so.

And with your background in finance, and your clear distaste for many aspects of that cesspool, I'm sure you'll have plenty to bring to this platform.

Looking forward to the answers to the great unanswered questions you presented.

Below are a few basic points of advice re posting on Steemit.

1. Longer posts are more lucrative than short posts. If you make a post of 20–30 paragraphs, it's more likely to earn rewards.
2. Include some photos, images or graphs, to complement the text.
3. Make sure the text and photos are formatted properly, so that your post looks attractive and appealing.
4. Be yourself.
5. Be interesting and informative.
6. Create quality content. Steemit is intended to be a platform of quality content. (You will see many insignificant posts with meager content and no quality. Most of those of posts [called “shitposts” by Steemit whale Stellabelle] will earn few rewards and soon pass into oblivion.)
7. Get online and start curating. Read various posts, comment on those posts you find interesting, and upvote those posts. That’s the best way to attract followers.

Hope this helps for now. Good luck, and Full Steem Ahead!