How I Got Here

I grew up in Taos, New Mexico. I received my bachelor's degree in political science from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, and a JD from the University of Dayton School of Law. Thereafter, I worked at a law firm in Los Angeles where I spent my days writing briefs. While I enjoyed the firm, every day was very repetitive.

Several colleagues I knew from law school worked for Ayco and loved their jobs. So I submitted my résumé and the rest is history. I moved to Albany, NY and joined Ayco as a staff attorney. I spent several months in training and obtained my Series 7 and 66 and health- and life-insurance licenses. I immediately felt welcome among my hard-working, smart and friendly co-workers.

What I Do

I have a dual role as both a SurvivorSupport® counselor and a seminar speaker.

In SurvivorSupport®, we work as a team to provide terminally ill individuals and those who have recently lost a loved one with financial guidance. It brings a personal touch to financial counseling at a time when people and families are faced with difficult decisions – many of which are irrevocable and have long-term effects on their financial security. It is valuable assistance at a truly difficult time. As a counselor, I meet with clients and answer their questions with regard to estate settlement, estate planning, Social Security benefits, taxes, life insurance and employee benefits. After speaking with a client, I structure a personal financial plan, which, over the course of our service, we assist the client in implementing.

As a seminar speaker, I deliver multimedia seminars sponsored by companies to groups of employees who may need to make decisions as a result of a corporate event (merger, acquisition, downsizing) or company benefit-plan change (401(k), stock options, pension freezes, medical plans, etc.).

A Typical Day

One of the innumerable perks of my career is that my schedule is always different. If I'm not traveling, I'm in the office conducting phone meetings with clients, writing financial plans, responding to calls and connecting with my team on a variety of issues.

On days when I am meeting with a client face-to-face, I travel to their home, conduct the meeting and either fly home or to the next meeting location. When conducting seminars I usually present two or three a day with a typical audience of between 25 and 100 people.

At Ayco I have had the opportunity to travel all over the country and see things I would never have otherwise had the opportunity to see. I have been given the opportunity to truly assist people during a difficult time, which in itself, is a gift.

I leave the office as late as 9 p.m. to accommodate clients on the West Coast. The key to success in my job is being organized and managing my time well both in the office and on the road.

My Colleagues

Ayco's culture is one of friendly, happy, helpful people who exhibit an exemplary work ethic and who focus exclusively on our clients' needs and exceeding their expectations.

I've developed meaningful relationships that have lasted and grown over the years. Some of the most important people in my life are Ayco associates.

Commitment To Clients

At a recent SurvivorSupport® meeting, my client had numerous questions and stacks of paperwork she neither understood nor, due to her husband's passing, wanted to deal with. I walked her through the estate-settlement process, calming her fears, as she did not know what to expect.

We read through her mail and paperwork and set up a plan to notify her husband's creditors of his passing. We then reviewed her income taxes and discussed estate taxes. Next, I summarized all the employee benefits she was eligible to receive from her husband's employer. We discussed the tax implications of the different distribution options, and I assisted her in creating a budget and structured an investment plan that was coordinated with her retirement plan. Finally I reviewed her insurance policies and outlined an estate plan. Before leaving the meeting I encouraged her to contact me at any time with any questions. She thanked me profusely for everything.

The value I feel I provide my clients is immeasurable because it goes beyond assisting them in structuring a financial plan. I help them organize their lives and plan for the future.