​Career

I currently work part-time with a wealth management group at a trust administrator and part-time with a small financial planning firm. I focus primarily but not exclusively on cash flow planning, needs analysis, Social Security optimization, and Required Minimum Distributions.

I have previous experience working at a large mutual fund company, where I learned extensively about retirement plans for individuals and small businesses, among other topics. I spent a similar amount of time at a cross-border financial planning firm (primarily Americans and Canadians), where I became a subject matter expert on several topics, including but not limited to, education plans and Social Security.

I've worked in various jobs prior to my career and feel that everyone would benefit from jobs in retail and food services, even if they move on to another profession.

​Education

I love learning! Even when it's not formal education, I am always looking for learning opportunities.

I graduated with a Bachelor's in Finance from Arizona State University, with a Certificate in International Business studies, and a minor in Spanish. (You can find me on Duolingo every day!)

I have had various FINRA licenses during my professional career, including Series 6, 63, 65, and 66. Most notably, I've held the Series 7 license twice. However, these licenses must be held through certain types of firms, so they have lapsed and you will not find me on BrokerCheck.

I earned my Certified Financial Planner (TM) designation in 2001. I later earned the Canadian Certified Financial Planner (TM) although I did not have to (or get to) go to Canada! I currently maintain both of these designations by completing continuing education requirement annually.

I earned my Master's in Advanced Financial Planning with an emphasis on Financial Life Planning, with honors, from Golden Gate University in 2019. I remain in touch with several classmates and professors from this interesting time.

I also completed a course through Columbia and the CFP Board for teaching CFP(c) classes. I haven't decided what's next!

​Professional Community

While I think there are issues within the financial planning profession, and more broadly, the financial services industry, I love being part of this evolving profession.

I served on the Board of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix (FPAGP) for a number of years, including a term as President in 2010. I remain involved FPAGP through volunteer programs such as Junior Achievement Biztown (a business education program for 5th graders), Financial Planning Day events, pro bono events for teachers, and involvement in the Communications team.

​Teaching and Volunteering

During my time at the cross-border financial planning firm, I often created and presented training on various topics. I enjoyed this immensely! I also began writing some posts for the company's blog, and received very positive responses.

While President for the Board of FPAGP, I wrote a month newsletter article and learned to be more comfortable with public speaking as I had to stand in front of 50-150 people each month at our meetings.

I am most proud of my experience teaching the MoneyWise program. This financial education program was developed by a nonprofit, Wise in NY; they partnered with YWCA and FPAGP to offer the 12-class program through volunteer co-teachers. We have offered it 4 times now and I taught or co-taught the majority of the classes we offered. Additionally, I updated the presentations significantly, developing more expertise in areas I had less experience in previously. We will be starting the fifth group in the fall of 2022.

I have also volunteered several times for a fun program offered by ACEE. High school students and their economics teachers go through some education. The students are assigned a profession, salary, and family situation. Then the volunteers, like me, present information and experiences for the 6 areas of the budget the students are creating. At the end, they get a spin on the Wheel of Life, which can change their budget by adding an expense (fix the car) or adding some income (gift, inheritance, bonus, etc.) It's always fun to stay for their final reactions to the process and information.

​Other Volunteering

While I like to give of my time as generously as possible, I only have the same number of hours in the day as everyone else!

2022 was the first year I volunteered for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and plan to continue as my schedule permits. It's a great learning experience and I encourage all my peers and colleagues to participate.

I also volunteer my time with the Valley of the Sun Weimaraner Club. I have been a member since my first Weimaraner was young. I have been the Secretary for a larger number of years than I expected, so if anyone is interested...

​Why I'm a Financial Planner / Educator

​I was in a very serious accident when I was in my early 20s. The kind where they told my sister I wouldn't walk again. (Of course she rolled her eyes at them--I'm tenacious and I could wiggle my toes!) It changed my life in a lot of ways I won't go into here. I ended up getting a settlement from the driver's insurance. My astute attorney told me that less than 5% of people who get a (to them) large sum of money have anything left after 5 years. This shocked me. I. Was. Shook. I did not want to be broke (again) in 5 years, with expected ongoing health issues that may or may not affect my ability to work. (Fortunately, I was and am able to live a normal life, but it was uncertain at that point.)

I looked around me. Everyone I knew was living paycheck to paycheck. Some of my family members had declared bankruptcy more than once. People already had their hands out for my settlement money before I got it. (The only person who got any of that money besides the attorney was the guy who let me continue living in his house rent-free while I rehabbed.)

I discussed with the attorney and he recommended 2 investment advisors. I met with them, had them put me on a budget while I finished surgeries and rehab and school. I went back to school and decided on the finance major as it was the closest at the time to what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people who, like me, could learn, but had no idea what they were supposed to be learning to control their finances and their life.

​​Fun Things About Me

I love to read. Fiction, nonfiction, various genres (some more than others!) I'll read it all. Or at least try!

I like to hike and I'm kind of a treehugger. Ya know, I want to do the right things for the environment, and I don't understand why people trash nature or destroy things. I definitely subscribe to "leave it better than you find it." At the same time, it's easy to become disillusioned or overwhelmed by [shakes hand vaguely at life and the world] everything, so I try to maintain balance. Like, I'll take my plastic bottle home to recycle but I won't dig through the trash to get yours.

I have a Weimaraner and 2 cats. I'm a dog person. Also, I'm a cat person. It's not either/or. My Weimaraner is a dog version of how goofy and not graceful I can be.

I've planted a rose garden at all the houses I've lived in. My current house is getting the rose garden this year! People often think you can't grow roses in Phoenix but my dad and grandma always had them. Also, Arizona has rose farms; some roses are grown here to ship other places!

I'm a self-taught cook. I love to cook because, 1, I like to eat, and 2, I enjoy feeding others. I learned to cook as an adult, and have had to experiment and relearn as my health and dietary needs have changed. It's gotta be yummy!

If it was two weeks into the zombie apocalypse, I'd like to think I would be in hiding somewhere remote, but really, my dog is way too friendly. I would totally be dead.