I grew up in a small town in the 90's. Our family didn’t have much money but we had everything we truly needed. Food on the table, a roof over our head, and family. But, from an early age, I experienced the impact that financial imprudence can have on a family. My mom’s struggles with spending ultimately led to my parents’ divorce. It was a hard lesson that planted the seed for my lifelong commitment to financial responsibility. By the age of 14, I was working in a butcher shop and using my paycheck to help buy groceries. That experience shaped how I see money. Not as numbers in an account, but as the foundation for stability, independence, and resilience.

I carried that lesson into my studies at San Diego State University and later into my first postgraduate job at Countrywide Financial during the housing boom. Given my past experiences with financial imprudence, I immediately recognized the poor lending practices of the company I just joined. No income, no assets? 520 credit scores? Adjustable rate mortgages? Balloon payments after the first 5 years of the loan? You gotta be kidding me. We should not be making these loans. These were my thoughts as I analyzed the multi million dollar mortgage applications. We should have been declining these loans but when we did, we would be called into the VP's office to be not so politely told to approve the loan, because, and I quote, "If we don't make this loan then WAMU will."

Seeing the resulting devastation of this financial imprudence further entrenched my belief that the families of our nation desperately need better financial support and literacy. But this wasn't the right time for me to take risks by venturing out on my own to fulfill this mission. My son was just born, my daughter followed a couple years later, and it was my duty to create stability and resilience for my family.

From there, I moved into financial planning and analysis roles at Fortune 500 companies like Bank of America, AIG, and Corebridge Financial. Over the next 15 years I managed $100M budgets and led teams through complex financial planning and decision making. The core skill that I developed over this period was building simple, sustainable processes that create clarity in complex, uncertain situations, and how to be patient and stay focused on long-term financial goals.

But as I raised two kids of my own, I realized that even families with high incomes were overwhelmed and uncertain about their financial situation and future. That’s why I created Adaptable Wealth. To bring the same financial expertise to busy, hardworking families who want lasting financial clarity and stability. For themselves. For their partners. For their families.

Today, my mission is simple. Partner with 10,000 families to simplify money, reduce stress, and build sustainable financial success. No judgment. No guilt. Just clear, practical strategies that save time and deliver results. Because financial success should be simple, and available to all families.