When I was five years old, I was adopted from an orphanage in Novokuznetsk, Russia, and grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. Looking back, that early experience of starting over in an unfamiliar place taught me to adapt quickly and pay attention to what people need, even when they don't always say it directly. Those instincts serve me well in this line of work.
After I graduated from University of Missouri with a degree in Personal Finance Planning, the stock market had always fascinated me, and I wanted to understand how it actually worked. That curiosity ultimately turned into a career path.
Financial services have been my focus, starting at Oppenheimer before joining the team here. My Series 7 license opens up more ways to help clients with their needs. As a client service associate, my days involve handling account updates, money movement, beneficiary changes, and whatever else comes up. The unpredictability of it appeals to me. You never quite know what a client is calling about, and being able to solve problems quickly and keep things moving is satisfying work. Responsiveness matters to clients. They don't want to wait, and bringing energy to that part of the job helps keep the experience smooth for them.
When I'm not working, most of my time goes to walking outdoors, riding my bike, and reading. Being in nature helps me reset.