My goal to help others navigate finances has been shaped by a number of pivotal experiences. Underlying each of them is the importance of values, principles and goals:

• One of my parents is a member of the clergy, and growing up, my family’s income depended on the generosity of others. During the 2008 financial crisis, I saw how a community rooted in strong values continued to show up for us even in the face of tremendous uncertainty. That experience taught me how deeply values can influence financial choices.
• My grandfather, a World War II veteran, lost everything in an elder lottery scam. He had survived unimaginable adversity in his life, but like so many, hadn’t been given the tools to identify and manage financial risk.
• I formerly volunteered with hospice and witnessed firsthand how money becomes paradoxically irrelevant and essential at the end of life. It was insignificant in the grand scheme, yet critical for providing stability and support for the loved ones left behind.
• During undergrad, I connected with an alum who had enough wealth to secure their family’s future for generations. Yet despite their financial security, they were deeply unhappy. They had never defined what “enough” truly looked like. That experience showed me that if we don’t manage our relationship with money, it ends up managing us.

Overall, these moments taught me that our relationship with money is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. By managing it with intention, we can open the door to a new way of navigating the world.