Growing up without much financial support taught me early on that money is something you have to work for and understand. My parents always emphasized earning what you have, which shaped how I think about finances today. I began helping friends and family better understand basic financial concepts. I found that I genuinely enjoy breaking things down and helping others make smarter decisions, which eventually turned into a career path.
After graduating from Illinois State University with a B.S. in finance and insurance, I joined Shallcross Financial Planning as a paraplanner. My role focuses on supporting the team with financial management tasks, retirement planning analysis, and building the technical knowledge I'll need to serve clients well down the road. I currently hold my Illinois Life and Health insurance licenses, and I'm working toward my Series 7 license.
Problem-solving and working with numbers have always come naturally to me. People tend to say I'm approachable and calm, and I try to stay solution-focused rather than getting stuck on problems. My goal is to learn something new every day that makes me better at my work.
These days, I live in Manhattan with my family. I have two older sisters, a younger brother, and a dog named Sadie who gets me up early most mornings for walks before the sun finishes rising. When I'm not working, I'm usually watching Chicago sports, discovering new music, or finding time to snowboard when the season hits.