ABOUT YOU
Do you know that being on top of your finances reduces stress and gives you a feeling of control over your life? It is ok to be scared to start.
Are you ready to evaluate how your money life makes you happy (or unhappy)? Do you finally want to get to a point where money no longer keeps you up at night? Or are you a person who wants to make sure the money you do have takes you as far in life as it can?
I strongly believe that starting somewhere, no matter where that happens to be, will lead you to the life that you want. If you are a person who believes that the more you know about money and the more you commit to staying on top of your finances, the easier your life becomes, then I really hope we can work together. Financial planning has its limitations, just like everything else in life. There is rarely one correct answer. Striving for balance is important. Financial planners focus a lot on saving money, but the truth is that you need to live and enjoy your life and feel good about your money decisions. I hope to become your guide through that process.
ABOUT Inga
You know those inspirational stories about realizing how you are in the wrong profession and changing your life at 40? That is so not me. I am the person with a plan, a back-up plan, and 19 bullet points on how to accomplish that plan. In other words, I get things done.
I have a Ph.D. in finance and I teach finance, banking and FinTech, I do financial plans, I answer all kinds of finance related questions, and I manage money. I also do research about what motivates people to save for retirement, how financial planners can help in that quest and the link between money and happiness. A few years ago, I wrote a fun book about personal finances. You can find it here: Mastering Money – A Simple Guide to Achieving Financial Success
I believe that travelling is imperative to my existence; Peloton is just pure happiness, and power walking while listening to financial planning podcasts is my “down time”. My husband Mike and I have two little boys and we try to teach them about responsible money habits, that no one needs seven sets of Legos, and that attitude towards money is more important than how much money one makes (no, they are not making any money yet).
ABOUT NEEKA
During high school, I was on the basketball team and wanted to get out of school early for practices, so I decided to pick a random 0 period course. My only choice was a class called “Personal Finance”. Despite all the factors that set this class up to be the pinnacle of boredom at 7:00 AM (the teacher ate breakfast while we silently worked through a workbook), I was enthralled by the content. After my first class, I promptly went home and Googled “Finance Careers for Extroverts”. Financial Planning was first on the list. Years later, I have my B.S. from CSUN (Go Matadors!) in Business Administration with an emphasis in Financial Planning, I was the Financial Coaching Coordinator for the CSUN VITA Clinic, and I recently passed my CFP® and Series 65 exams. I’m the person who always has a plan, and I’m ready for us to create and focus on your plan.
In case you were wondering, I still play basketball recreationally, although I now spend most of my free time in the gym weightlifting or outside hiking when I’m not reading a book or making lip balms.
ABOUT OUR WORK TOGETHER
Not everyone has the same dreams and goals in life. Not everyone needs the same advice. My Planning Philosophy is that:
- Everyone, regardless of their current investable assets, deserves unbiased custom financial advice that fits with their unique goals and dreams. Here is the translation to that aspirational sentence: financial planning is not only for the people who have at least a million dollars to invest. A million dollars helps, but that is known as investment management. Financial planning goes beyond managing money. Where are you now and where do you want to be?
- Everyone, regardless of their major in college or path in life, will benefit from being in complete control of their finances. The best way to gain that control is to be as educated as you can about “all things money”. After all, it’s your money and you should be able to keep it, grow it, and enjoy it.
- Advisors should share information rather than make financial planning look like rocket science. The more you know and understand, the better your life will be. I am just here to help.
SO...WHAT EXACTLY WILL WE DO TOGETHER?
We will start by looking at where your money is coming from and where it is going.
We will plan your financial and not so financial life (move to Puerto Rico, anyone?)
We will invest your hard earned money.
We will coordinate with other professionals who can help with things such as getting a mortgage, taxes, estate planning, & insurance needs. Excitement!