Have you ever gone to a get together and already known what people were going to ask you? For me, it has been the same topic over and over again: Finance. Finance is something that affects each and every one of us – whether it is lack of money or an overabundance. Some just want to get out of debt, while others want to travel the world and retire before they are 40.
I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and had an interest in finance ever since I was a child. I am sure that sounds cliché, but trust me – finding ways to make money has always interested me. In the summer, my mom would grow vegetables in her garden that were meant for our family to enjoy. One day, I got the brilliant idea to pick as many vegetables as I could, put them in my red wagon, and walk down the street selling them door-to-door. Who could say no to an adorable five-year-old asking you to buy fresh vegetables?
I majored in Finance and graduated in under 3 years. While in college, I decided not to work a typical job, but instead worked as an independent financial planner. This was an amazing experience because it gave me exposure to things that people really cared about, including things like:
- At what age can I retire?
- How much do I need to retire?
- When will I be out of debt?
- Should I quit my job and start a business?
- Do I have enough life insurance?
- How can I pay for my children’s education?
One of the most interesting facts that I discovered was that most people were never taught anything about managing their finances. They had to learn it on their own. Even as a finance major, I never took a single class on Personal Finance and I don’t think one was even offered. Sure, a few textbooks touched on the topics of retirement or insurance, but none went into detail about how to navigate these complex subjects.
After college, I thought about either continuing to do personal financial planning or entering corporate finance and working on Wall Street. I ended up working for the government, which worked out, because a year after graduating, the financial crash of 2008 happened. I got married in 2013 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where we lived for five years. Last fall, we relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where we plan to live for the next several years.
So why do I want to start this financial blog? Because I absolutely love helping people. I was taught at a young age that people are important and this is just one way I think I can help make a difference in someone’s life, even if from behind a computer. I want to share a personal story with you that I think about a lot. Several years ago, my cousin started a landscaping business and his debts just started piling up. He was struggling to make ends meet and unfortunately, the stress of a failing business, along with other things, led him to take his own life. He never reached out to me about his financial situation and I regret not taking initiative and reaching out to him. I know that I cannot bring him back, but what I can do is reach out to readers who are either struggling with financial obstacles or have so many questions that they don’t know where to turn.
My goal is to write and educate you about anything and everything financial. I will be transparent and real with you 100% of the time. I know we have all read those generic articles on “How to Get Rich in 30 Days”, but I want to show you:
- Real ways you can get out of debt
- Ways to build an emergency fund
- How to create budgets that work
- Educate you on the different kinds of life insurance
- Give you money-saving tips on everyday expenses
- Determine which mortgage is right for you
- Ways to save money on travel, both domestic and international
- How much it takes to retire
- And many more topics…
Together, I believe this is the start of something special. I encourage each and every one of you to express your opinions. Your opinion and feedback are crucial to this growing and reaching others. For many of you, I have a feeling that finances are the last thing you want to spend your free time talking about, especially since no one has really taken the time to sit down and educate you about the world of finance. Over time we will answer many questions, but right now, I want you to think about this question that only you can answer: What is your biggest financial fear?
Thank you again to everyone for your support and I look forward to this journey together!