Growing up, there was a lot about the world that I didn’t know or understand. And as a result, I’ve experienced failures in my health, my marriage, my parenting, my finances, and my career.

The silver lining is that these challenging moments have forced me to come face to face with myself and the gaps between who I am and who I want to be. Years of struggles cultivated empathy and space in me for others who are also seeking answers and wondering if they truly have what it takes to make changes.

As I’ve worked with people to improve their health, fitness, career and finances over the years, I’ve made a few important observations. The first is that anyone can change; it starts with a belief (sometimes a tiny flicker of hope!) that they have what it takes to achieve what they want. The second observation is that, unfortunately, not everyone will change; therefore, belief is not the only required ingredient. The third is that those who successfully make changes rarely do it alone; trusted resources and a community of like-minded people provide exponential results on the path toward success.

Another observation is that people are profoundly different, and not only because of things we can easily see like gender, age, and socioeconomic status. We are all different in our hearts and minds, and feelings and experiences too. Every person has their own unique life path: where they’ve come from, where they are now, and where they are going. These stories matter deeply, and change requires us to understand and embrace them.

Over the past 8 years in the financial services industry, I’ve collected several designations and learned many things. But one thing seems to be the most important of all:

Math doesn’t solve money problems. Budgeting, investing, spending wisely, even the holy grail of compounding…none of it matters if the person holding the bag doesn’t feel like they are able to use that currency to live their best life.

And because everyone has their own unique life path, no one’s best life looks exactly the same.

Throughout my career in finance, I’ve had incredible opportunities to network with the brightest minds in the business, share my insights on media platforms, and speak at industry events. In the summer of 2024, after three years working side by side with the leadership at one of the most highly respected quant firms in the industry, I brought my passion for helping people to Lake Avenue Financial, one of the premier financial planning firms in Los Angeles. As Lead Financial Planner at Lake Avenue, I now work directly with clients from coast to coast on making the financial changes that matter to them: gaining clarity, finding peace, building wealth, reaching goals, achieving freedom, and — ultimately — leaving a legacy.