After getting married, I did some soul searching as I was realizing Corporate America was not for me. During this time I identified the 5 things I wanted out of my future career: (1) To be my own boss and build something (2) To be challenged (3) To be excited to go to work every day (4) To have flexibility when I eventually became a mother and (5) To help people. I kept searching how to marry my background in business, marketing and finance with my desire to be entrepreneurial while helping others.

Then, in an airport awaiting a flight from a friend’s wedding in New Hampshire back to our home in Chicago, my husband and I brainstormed and brainstormed.

Then my husband looked at me and said “why don’t you continue in your father’s footsteps and build your own financial advisory business.” I had never thought of pursuing that line of work due to the path my career had taken to that point.

But at that moment it all made sense. The idea of helping others reach their life goals by teaching them how to reap the benefits of personal responsibility and discipline… is exactly what resonated with me. All the financially savvy decisions I make on a daily basis can be turned into a foundation for helping others do the same. At the end of the day it is all about forward thinking and ultimately stress relief.