Like many kids, I grew up earning money for doing things like mowing the grass, shoveling the snow, etc. However, unlike most kids my age, I recognized the value of saving. My family didn’t have a lot of money growing up, and we went through some very tough times. I started working as a waitress at a local restaurant at the age of 14, and I continued there as I worked my way through college. This is where I first learned the importance of great customer service, which is something I have carried in every job since.

My first introduction to the impact proper financial planning can have on a family came as my grandparents passed away. My grandparents were teachers and two of the smartest people I ever met. However, when they passed, I realized how unprepared they were in planning for when they were gone. My grandpa passed away first, and since he handled everything for the family, my grandma had very little knowledge about their accounts, bills, etc. We had to help her get organized and learn how to manage everything on her own, which she did until she passed a few years later. When she passed away, a lot was still unsettled. While at the time I was not a financial advisor yet, I quickly learned how difficult the process was, and I saw my family make many mistakes along the way as they didn’t know what needed to be done. I helped my family and worked closely with the estate attorney to navigate through a lengthy probate process to get things finalized.

Another aspect of my personal life that shaped me as an advisor was being a caregiver to both of my parents. My dad was first diagnosed with cancer while I was in middle school and unfortunately passed away in 2018 after a 20-year battle. During these years, and especially at the end, I had an active role in medical and financial decisions as his power of attorney. At the end of 2018, my mom suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. Since then I have helped her along the difficult journey to relearn how to walk, talk and even return to a semi-normal life. As a caregiver for my parents, I have a great understanding of the medical and financial challenges that many families may face. I have also had the unfortunate experience of going through a divorce with a young child, and I understand how challenging this can be. These transitional phases in life are difficult, but having been through them myself I have learned a lot, and I have been able to use these experiences to better help clients facing similar circumstances.

While financial planning can be intimidating, I am not. I come from a family of teachers, and if there’s anything they have taught me, it is the value of communication. I will work to simplify the complicated and take the time to make sure I understand your needs. I am also a problem solver, and when life takes a turn, I will go above and beyond to help you through it. I genuinely care about my clients, and over the years, many clients have become like family to me.

I am passionate about helping clients with comprehensive financial planning including planning for retirement, life insurance, planning for college, and wealth transfer strategies. This, however, only covers some of the things I can help you with. My goal is to help you to plan for all the pivotal moments in your life. I will work to understand what is most important to you, and then I will use an established process to build personalized strategies to help you pursue your goals. People always say to expect the unexpected, but rarely do we do this. As your advisor though, I can be there to help you prepare. I thrive in tough situations, and I love a good project. Even if you do not know where to begin, I have the knowledge and patience to sort out a complicated situation. I will partner with you throughout your lifetime and work with your family once you have passed on to help with anything that is needed to ensure your final wishes are carried out financially.

Growing up in a family of teachers, education has always been the foundation of my success. My grandmother, a former teacher, was still learning into her early 90s and was a true inspiration. In college, I initially saw education as the stepping stone to a better future for me and my family. As the years passed I began to enjoy opportunities to sharpen my skills and continually work on my personal and professional development. In our fast-changing times, I recognize the importance of learning and growing in this profession. Over the years I have earned the following professional designations: Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM from The College for Financial Planning, Chartered Financial Consultant® from The American College of Financial Services and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

In 2022, I founded Anchored in Faith Wealth Management and transitioned to Raymond James. Prior to joining Raymond James, I worked for Edward Jones in Sterling Heights for six and a half years. In addition to being a financial advisor for Edward Jones, I worked closely with leadership to restructure the training and mentoring programs for new advisors.

Away from the office, I enjoy being an active member of the community. I am a member of Kensington Church, and I have also volunteered and worked with a number of charities and organizations. During my time at Edward Jones, I was on the planning committee for our regional team for the Alzheimer’s Associations Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and I have also worked with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. On a personal note, I live in Macomb County with my daughter Angela, who was born in May 2019, and is very active in gymnastics.