From as far back as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for money—specifically saving and budgeting. I’ve always loved numbers and helping others, which is why I dreamed of being a math teacher from a young age. Now, in my 10th year of teaching, while I enjoy building strong relationships with my students and making math easier for the students who once struggled with it, I know my true passion lies in personal finance.

Even though I was good at budgeting and saving, something always felt like it was missing. I never quite felt like I was doing everything I could with my money. Everything changed when I began learning about investing, high-yield savings accounts, taxes, and other financial strategies that helped me maximize my money—not just letting it sit in a traditional savings account. I finally had the tools to earn the best return on my money and make it work harder for me.

I started sharing this newfound knowledge with those close to me. Helping them improve their financial situations brought me so much joy. I was helping people get out of debt, create savings for the first time, open retirement and investment accounts, reduce their bills, and so much more. That’s when I realized that my true passion had always been there—I just needed to deepen my knowledge of personal finance to feel equipped to help people with their unique situations.

I enrolled in a program to become an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC), and that’s when everything got even better. With all the knowledge I had gained up to that point, I didn’t expect to fall even more in love with the subjects I needed to learn to pass the certification test. I couldn’t absorb it fast enough. I spent all my free time reading and studying. Budgeting and saving are the core of personal finance, but I was now diving into topics like taxes, insurance, student loans, credit repair, and so much more. I decided to offer my services beyond the people around me and became a financial coach. I couldn’t wait to educate my clients on all of this. After countless hours of studying, I passed the test on my first attempt, and the feeling of accomplishment was incredible.

I’m truly excited every time I work with a new client because I know I can make a positive impact on their life. Financial literacy isn't something we learn in school, so it can often feel like playing a game without knowing the rules. But once you have the right tools and knowledge, it’s much harder to fall back into old financial habits.