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Women of Distinction




        going through the whole fer-  to firm never gaining traction   go for it. Because the older   money, but when asked, could
        tility process we would adopt.”   at one firm and this can be very   you get, the harder it becomes   never tell you where their
        Kurt and Windus fostered to   toxic to your career.”  to start a new profession. I feel  money went. There are many
        adopt through the County of    With such a demanding   that if you have the luxury to   tools out there that you can use
        San Diego. Today they have   job, it requires an understand-  commit to this career out of   to create a budget so you can
        two beautiful children, Bradley   ing family to be successful. “It   college and connect with the   see what you actually spend to
        who is 10 ½, and Eloise who is   helps to have a husband and   right firm, then that's going   live your current lifestyle. We
        9 ½, and are biological siblings.   kids that are understanding be-  to be the most rewarding path   have even had clients who were
        Which is a unique situation.   cause it is tough when you have   for you to have long-term   afraid to spend any money for
        “We were about to take Bradley   to be away a long time.”  success.”              the fear that they wouldn’t have
        on a trip for his first birthday                                                  enough for their retirement.
        and since he wasn’t fully adopt-                                                  This too was affecting their life-
        ed yet, I called my social worker                                                 style, after all, you can’t take it
        to tell her and she said his sister                                               with you. So, you need a balance
        was just born today, and we                                                       that fits your retirement plan.
        would love for you to adopt her                                                   The second tip I would give is
        as well. So, we met her at five                                                   never try to time the market.
        weeks of age and adopted her as                                                   They have to realize that we are
        well.” With all of this going on                                                  going to have presidents coming
        Windus and Kurt were forced                                                       and going and taxes are going
        to deal with a lot early in their                                                 to increase and decrease and
        marriage, including personally                                                    state taxes are going to change
        seeing how even the tempo-                                                        constantly, depending on who
        rary disability of a mate could                                                   is in office. And in the end, the
        impact your financial plan.                                                       thing that makes you the most
           I asked Windus what she                                                        money is investing for your time
        would recommend to readers                                                        horizon and not overthinking
        who may be considering a                                                          it. My third tip is don’t cave into
        career in financial services. “It                                                 fear-based advice. Don’t listen
        can be a very challenging career                                                  to those telling you to buy a
        path. But for me, it's very re-                                                   product because it has a guar-
        warding. It just requires a lot of                                                antee. Not all financial advisors
        hard work. This is not a career                                                   are properly licensed. If they are
        path where you are going to                                                       only licensed to sell insurance
        have easy success in three years                                                  products, then that is all they
        and climb a corporate ladder.                                                     will advise you to buy.”
        I’m lucky in that I am with a                                                        Windus reminds readers,
        great firm; it has been amazing,                                                  “You need to do what is best for
        but it took about seven years to                                                  you. A good Financial Advisor
        really build a foundation where                                                   will listen to your needs, discuss
        I could earn enough money                                                         the lifestyle you wish to have
        and have peace of mind on an                                                      when you retire and will guide
        annual basis. However, having   What path should a person   Having time to spend with   you on the path to get you to
        said that, the relationship I have   take who wants to be a Finan-  a financial professional allowed   where you want to be.”
        with my clients is unique. It's a   cial Advisor or work in the   me to find out what we should   If you are looking for
        long-term friendship. What is   financial industry?   all know when it comes to   advice from a Financial Advisor
        really neat about what I do for a   “There wasn't really a   building wealth and protecting   with a long career and great
        living, is that there are no limits   Financial Advisor major or   it so we can have a worry-free   relationships with her clients,
        on what you can earn. You   college courses when I was   retirement.              many of whom are long-term
        have the ability to really grow   going through college, but   The key concepts that   clients, you need to look no
        an incredible book of business.   there are college courses now   Windus shared are the follow-  further than Windus Fernandez
        So, it's just a time commitment.   that I think are helpful. Much   ing, “Always know where your   Brinkkord.
        A lot of people in my industry   like being a doctor, if you are   money is going. I’ve had several
        are looking for a place where   going to be a doctor one of the  clients over the years who came   Contact Windus by email at
        the grass is greener; they are   best paths is to decide right   to me with no idea where their   windus.fernandez@trilogyfs.com
        constantly moving from firm   out of college and own it and   money was going. They spent   or by phone at 858 314 5169

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