The calling on my life has always been to help others. My mom told me from an early age that the only way to do that was to be a doctor or a lawyer. Believing my mother, I started on academic scholarship as a premed student, but after having to dissect an animal, I explored other avenues to help others. I knew that I wanted to have a passion and not just a job. I knew that I wanted to wake up and know that what I was doing was and will make a difference. After a stock market project in my business class, I changed my major to Personal Financial Planning. I don’t believe people want to make mistakes, or avoid planning for a better way, but are uninformed to make better choices. I am a firm believer that knowledge is power, and we can help spread that knowledge to enrich future generations of our communities, the legacies that we leave behind, imprint upon the places we work and attend. It starts with wanting better for yourself, your community, and family.
I started as an advisor in 2010. I have helped thousands of families over the years. Sometimes it is short term planning, and sometimes it is lifetime planning. I start out with a goals and concerns worksheet to get to know you. I ask what are your personal goals and stressors. I try my best to relieve those stressors by making a plan to help mitigate, avoid or work through them while working towards the goals you have set out. Sometimes we are able to do everything on your plan, and sometimes we have to shift timelines or change the budget. I’m a firm believer that it is more stressful in the not knowing than actually knowing and being able to get ahead of things. I have made plans where it is as simple as bringing your coffee to work rather than going to buy it every morning that allowed someone to retire early. There have been so many families I think of and continue to pray for where I have helped them through a dark stressful time in their life, such as a job loss, medical diagnosis or the loss of a family member. Helping ease those stressors and turning sad tears into happy ones is what helps me continue to thrive in the complexity of what financial planning. It is where human connection is built. I don’t think people are cookie cutter numbers that an algorithm can solve. I have software and experts on my team that help me in many ways. River City FCU has given me a home since 2019. I am privileged to be a source of knowledge for our community. I have helped many walks of life and levels of net worth. I treat everyone the same. I am a Certified Financial Planner™ and take those marks of a fiduciary seriously. Although I hold several degrees, certifications, designations and licenses, the usual ask is for retirement distribution analysis, or the famous “Will I run out of money in retirement?” question. I am also very passionate about long-term care planning. I personally took care of my grandparents in their last years and know what a heavy load that care bears on someone. I have helped families through having life insurance and not. It is always easier to get ahead of things when you have a plan, rather than having to be reactive. When I am not planning for others, I am planning our family calendar with the numerous kids’ sports activities, church activities, volunteering and military events. I am here to help make the world a better place. Life is a series of choices. Let your next choice be one to help you and the legacy you leave behind be the difference.