"Don’t get married before you are 28 and before you do, make sure you are financially independent."
This was my mother’s mantra, repeated so often that it became etched in my mind. Growing up, I watched her stretch every dollar, carefully budgeting while relying on my father’s small business. She did not work outside the home in those early years, which meant money was always carefully managed. Clipping coupons, shopping sales, and choosing only the most affordable in-season fruit. Without realizing it at the time, I was getting an early education in financial independence.
That lesson shaped my path. As the daughter of Chinese immigrants who had already uprooted their lives twice, first from Communist China to Taiwan and later to the U.S., I was raised with a mindset of survival and practicality. Pursuing a passion was not the priority. Stability was. My career choices reflected that. I went to engineering school, then transitioned into consulting and financial technology, always choosing the practical path over what truly inspired me.
But after 25 years in corporate America, I had a wakeup call. Literally. A ski accident left me with a torn ACL, and I did not bounce back as quickly as I expected. It made me stop and reflect. I realized that despite my success, my career was not feeding my soul. The reasons that once drove me no longer mattered. I knew I wanted more. I wanted to make a real impact.
That realization led me here. To financial advising and to helping others, especially women, take control of their financial future. I know firsthand how powerful financial independence can be. Women have not always been encouraged to own their financial success, and too often, they doubt their ability to manage wealth confidently. I am here to change that.
Of course, I work with men, families, and small business owners too. Nothing is more fulfilling than helping people move toward their dreams. Not recklessly, but with a thoughtful financial strategy that supports them at every stage of life.
Everyone has a money story. What is yours? Let’s talk and start building a plan that works for you.