Page 14 - San Diego Woman interactive pdf

Women of Distinction

enise Arand is prob- was ideal. My airline position various jobs along the way. situation and suggested I give
ably one of the few allowed us to fly for free, and Denise worked in real estate, as insurance a go. At first, I was
Dtrue “California Girls.” Chris’ position allowed us to a reservation manager, and as a dead set against it and then
To some this means born and play golf for free.” box seat manager at a racetrack decided ‘Hey, why not?’ “
raised in California, but in the A few years later Denise and casino. ’It seemed like I just Denise found out that she
case of Denise, her connection and her husband welcomed couldn't really land in a profes- just loved helping people plan
to California goes way back. their two daughters, Suzanne sion I loved. I felt like I wasn’t and protect their futures. She
“My great grandfather had and Elizabeth, just a year apart. using my degree, although loved the idea of helping a fami-
been lured from Illinois, with When the girls were nearing in some ways I was, because ly ensure they had the resources
the promise of ownership in a to send their children off to
goldmine only to find out it was college or to help them retire
a hoax. However, that didn’t with dignity.
deter him from his desire to “I was loving what I was
raise his family in California. doing and then the market
Not only did he stay, but ended crashed and suddenly being
up being one of the founding in the financial field was not a
families in the City of Redlands, coveted position to hold.” It was
California.” just about this time that Denise
When Denise was a young felt it might be time to leave the
child, her family moved to financial field. Denise and Chris
Manhattan Beach where she moved back to Colorado and
remained throughout her school she was feeling kind of lost, and
years. “I had a great childhood not quite sure what direction
with a loving family, but they she wanted to go, when she
never seemed to mention happened upon an introduction
anything to me about money. to one of the founders of Five
They were wonderful providers Ring Financial. After spending
and took wonderful care of us. some time learning about this
Whatever we wanted would just unique company, Denise knew
appear, no more accurately, not Photos by Dawn Nicoli/ Nicoli Productions that she finally found her home.
everything we wanted, but ev- “The structure of Five Rings
erything we needed. So, I never Financial was amazing. What I
really thought about money.” liked most about them was their
Denise remained in Man- structure. It was so open and
hattan Beach until she went off appealing. Unlike most insur-
to college at UC Santa Barbara. ance companies, there was no
“I was a communication major, door knocking, cold calling, or
and planned on going into hard selling, for which many in-
broadcasting. I really wanted Denise Arand surance companies are known.
to be a newscaster. I knew that What I especially liked was that
I did not want to be a reporter they were truly focused on mid-
though, since I never wanted to Wine, Women & Wealth dle Americans and one of their
stick a microphone in some- primary goals was educating
one's face, after they have been By Judith A. Habert their clients. Their cornerstone
through a tragedy and say, well, was educational workshops,
how do you feel?” which were truly educational,
Denise’s plans took an un- school age, they moved out of communication was a big part not the kind where you go, and
expected turn when she met her the Los Angeles area. Chris had of every job I held. Then I was then you have to buy a book or
soon to be husband Chris. “I got been offered a position as a golf laid off from a marketing job sign up for their services. They
out of school and got married pro in Colorado, so they spent at the racetrack, and I really were all about educating the
right away. I married the man the next 7 years there, and it had no idea where to turn next. attendees on financial matters.”
that I am still married to almost was another offer from a very We were living in a small town If after hearing about the
43 years later.” prestigious course in New Mexi- of about 40K people in New company the attendees wanted
Denise and Chris moved co that made the family pick Mexico called Farmington, and to know more or find out what
into a small apartment near the up stakes once again for a great when I went to town to pay our would work for them, the Five
beach. Denise got a job with opportunity. insurance premium, the agent Rings Financial agents were
Continental Airlines, and Chris Denise was busy raising started a conversation with me happy to listen and suggest what
was a golf professional. “Life her girls while working in about my current employment they felt was best. “We work

14