Fran’s Story

I was raised in the Washington DC area, and returned here after college. My first career was as a midwife! I loved that work, and I ran my own homebirth practice as well as managing the prenatal and pediatric programs at one of the country’s oldest free clinics. I found the work deeply rewarding and I learned so much. In 2000 I felt I needed a professional change, and spent a year exploring what that would be. I had daughters who were 6 and 13, no retirement or college savings after a non-financially-rewarding first career, and a primary relationship that was ending. This urgency helped keep me focused on a career change!

My goal when I was looking for a career change in 2000 was to find something that allowed me independence, financial rewards to raise my family’s standard of living, and close client relationships. I happened upon someone from my college recruiting people to become financial professionals and that’s how I got started.

After 11 years at one company and 3 at another, I realized that I simply MUST go independent. I had considered this transition a decade earlier, but for various reasons (including a long chronic illness) I delayed until 2015. I have been so happy with my decision every single day! I regret putting up with 14 years of all the aggravation of working for firms with proprietary production requirements, since it was always out of line with my fee-based practice.

The personal relationships, and the way that this work keeps challenging me to be a better person, a better listener, more respectful and less avoidant of all the challenges of life (including my own errors) have been the most rewarding and challenging parts of being a financial advisor. Our clients trust us with some of the deepest parts of their lives and it is a huge sacred challenge in my opinion to meet them there. I learn more from them than they do from me.

My philosophy is service before profit; long-term relationships before short-term gain; respecting, listening deeply, encouraging clients to be their best selves; and treating everyone like you would want your family member treated.