I started working in the financial services industry in an official capacity in 2006 but I would attribute the start of my journey to a conversation in my teenage years. Before starting a summer job working for my father, he pressed me to open an IRA with my first paycheck. At 15, I was appalled at the thought of putting my money somewhere other than my bank account to spend on things most important to a teenager!
But my dad didn’t relent and spent time explaining what an IRA is and how it could benefit me as part of a journey to financial security and independence. I’m not sure I was fully on board with my dad’s plan at the time, but he managed to plant a seed. During my collegiate days I realized that while financial prosperity was something we should all be able to obtain, so many struggle to do so.
Most people I knew were not in touch with the longer-term planning tools available to them. I realized I could help others do just what my dad had tried to teach me; I could show them a secure financial future is not impossible. This moment in time gave me new purpose; to work with individuals and families, so they understand what vehicles like IRAs and 401ks are and how best to use them for their future selves.
I attended Slippery Rock University and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance, coupled with their Personal Financial Planning Certificate. Later, in 2011 I passed the 10 hour Certified Financial Planner exam and earned my CFP® credentials. Through hands-on and face-to-face experiences with large and small firms in the Pittsburgh area, I’ve gained a broad knowledge base of comprehensive financial planning.
Here at 21:5 Wealth Management I have the freedom to continue to build on my experience and do what is best for the clients that I have the privilege to work with. I truly enjoy collaborating with individuals and families, empowering them with knowledge to build a plan for their future and helping them make informed decisions along their path. I work closely with those I like to call friends both inside and outside the office where we all believe good planning and hard work lead to prosperity!
When I am not meeting with clients or working hard on their behalf, I can be found with my husband Jason and our 2 mini-mes. Although I hear they won’t stay mini for much longer! Our son, Liam, was born the same year I was preparing for the CFP® exam and our daughter, Adelai, was born 2.5 years later.
We are a tightknit family so when we are not watching Liam play ice hockey at RMU Sports Complex, I might be coaching Adelai’s soccer team, or we might be camping, biking, or challenging each other at board games.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which is authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.