When his father-in-law failed, in 1870, Ryan came to New York, went to work in a broker's office, and succeeded so well that, in a few years, he was able to purchase a seat on the Stock Exchange.

He was sufficiently skillful as a broker to number Jay Gould among his customers and to inspire a prophecy by William C.Whitney that, if he retained his health, he would become one of the richest men in the country.

Afterwards, when he knew him more intimately, Whitney elaborated this estimate by saying that Ryan was "the most adroit, suave, and noiseless man he had ever known." Ryan had two compelling traits that soon won for him these influential admirers.
First of all was his marvelous industry.

His genius was not spasmodic.
He worked steadily, regularly, never losing a moment, never getting excited, going, day after day, the same monotonous dog-trot, easily outdistancing scores of apparently stronger men.

He also had the indispensable faculty of silence.