My path to financial planning began long before I was born. My father’s childhood started out idyllic in Milwaukee, WI. His parents were a family medicine physician and a stay-at-home mother. They lived comfortably but did not have a long-term financial plan in place. Tragically, when my father was 12, my paternal grandparents were killed in a plane crash. There were no plans in place for how he and his sister would be cared for and little money for them to continue the lives to which they had become accustomed. This led to an unfortunate series of events that could have potentially been avoided if time was taken to create a structured financial and estate plan.
The long-term impacts of my father’s childhood experience were felt in my own upbringing. This inspired me to work, plan, and save my money. I saved my first $100 by the age of six. By the time I turned ten years old, I had saved my first $1,000. That day I walked down to the local credit union and opened my first savings account. It was after learning about compound interest in a math class at Luther College that I opened a Roth IRA and my interest in money management and investing began.
After graduating, my then fiancé, Jessica, and I put together our own financial plan, which further developed as our careers and family grew. During this time, I realized that I was not only passionate about financial planning for myself, but for others as well. In 2015, I joined a nationally recognized financial management firm and started working with clients after obtaining my certifications and licensure. Immediately, I loved it!
Guiding others as they pursued their financial goals is where I was meant to be.
I spent the next decade finding the right fit that allowed me to provide the best combination of expertise, service, and product offerings for my clients. In the end, I found the best way to do this was by operating my own independent wealth management firm.
In March of 2024, I launched WillowRidge Financial Solutions where we believe anyone with an income can benefit from having a structured financial plan. We specialize in providing our clients plans personalized to their situation—regardless of their current wealth status.