In my family, personal finance was taboo and a major cause of stress. It certainly didn't help that our education system doesn't address it, steers us towards student loans, and then society celebrates our most debt-laden moments like buying cars and massive mortgages.

I went to college thinking credit card debt and student loans were inevitable, and I continued this thinking into my marriage. It wasn't until a failed home escrow and several arguments with my wife Devon when we came to realize - maybe this was not normal. Long story short, in the next 14 months, we paid off $55,000 in consumer debt - more than half of our gross pay at the time. Since then, we've prioritized savings and investments, and strengthened our financial habits.

When the pandemic hit, my wife was furloughed while 8 months pregnant - and we were about to go on family leave with reduced salaries. But thanks to a couple years of budgeting and proactive savings - we miraculously weren't that stressed. I cannot express how peaceful that was, and the birth of my daughter helped me realize I want to help others get to that place.

Everything I knew about "financial advisors" was centered on commissions, fees, or high net-worth clients - but I want to flip the script and help people wherever they are at.

Of all the things I've done, helping others tackle their finances has been the most rewarding. If nothing else, I hope I've opened the door to a conversation about money without stigma or shame attached. As our family likes to say - let's crush it.