At age eleven I stood in the hallway as the paramedics took my unresponsive mother out on a stretcher. What always stayed with me was the compassion of the paramedics, their faces, and words as they tried to console us hurrying out to the ambulance. I didn’t realize it then, but that was the moment that ignited my desire to be of service to people in a time of need and have a career where I could make a difference.

I became a registered nurse at the age of twenty-one, working in long term care and hospice. Although I found the medical side of nursing very interesting, what brought me joy was the relationships with my patients and their families as well as the support I could provide when they were at their most vulnerable.

After having my first born, I decided to take some time for my family and put my career on hold. During the next ten years, I devoted much of my time to volunteer work that gave back to our community. I did this in multiple ways ranging from PTO board member and girl scout leader to Sunday school teacher and cheerleading coach.

During this time, I concentrated on my core values, security being one of them. So, I dove in and started learning everything I could about money. I listened to the experts and read many subject matter books. Thrivent’s mission aligned with our values, so I called the local Thrivent advisor in our area and started asking questions about everything! Soon, we were putting our financial plan in place. It was a process we continued to work on over the years and I developed a passion for financial strategies along the way.

After having my fourth baby, I decided to dust off my stethoscope and head back into the work force. After a ten-year stint in the hospital setting, I transitioned to a position with a Medicaid insurance company. As a care coordinator, I created comprehensive individualized health plans for children with special needs to be used by parents/caretakers.

Eventually, my role transitioned to work behind the scenes with healthcare providers. I missed working with patients and creating those relationships. With some reflection, I realized that after losing both my parents within one year at a young age, working with patients and exhausted healthcare professionals who were stressed about their finances, finding fulfillment in creating health plans for families, knowing passion for financial strategizing through my own personal finances, I was in a position to make a difference by guiding others in finding financial wellness.

And so, my journey with Thrivent, as a financial advisor began. I am here to support people in finding financial wellness while living more generous lives through the resources I can offer with Thrivent. I feel truly thankful for the opportunity to provide service and make a difference in the lives of others by using money as a tool.