A Tribute to my Mom - The Story Behind Pay It Forward Financial Planning
my mom
On July 22, 2021, my mom passed away due to lung cancer. Her passing was hard for me to come to terms with even though she had been in decline for several months. I was 27 years old at the time, and I think part of me was still in disbelief because I had always assumed that my parents would live well into their 80s or 90s, not their late 50s.
It’s hard to believe that four years can go by so quickly. There’s not a day that’s gone by that I’m not reminded of my mom in some way. That’s especially true every July 22nd. With that said, I wanted to take some time to express the impact that she made on my life, and how she continues to impact me as I grow Pay It Forward Financial Planning.
her impact
I vividly remember sitting in my parent’s living room one evening during the spring semester of my fourth year at Otterbein University. Like many soon-to-be college grads, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue for a career. I was finishing a degree in applied mathematics but had little interest in utilizing that knowledge in a professional setting. That’s when I asked my mom if she would convince my dad to let me go a fifth year and take some business and economics courses with the hope that it would help me get accepted into an MBA program. She empathized and listened to my concerns. Ultimately, she agreed to my proposal and the three of us discussed the logistics of me going an extra year at Otterbein.
The reason I bring up this story is because I do not pursue a career in financial services or financial planning without my mom’s patience, understanding, and support. Going an extra year allowed me to ultimately meet an economics professor that mentioned financial advising, which led to an introduction and subsequent interview with an Otterbein alum in financial services. I’m not sure where I would be in this world without that fifth year at Otterbein, but I have my mom to thank for giving me the opportunity.
her legacy
I began to think seriously about launching my own financial planning firm in early 2025. It was soon after that I thought about my “ideal” client. Who would I want to work with on a regular basis? I quickly thought of my mom.
My mom was a stay-at-home mom for my entire life. When she wasn’t corralling me or my two siblings, she was likely volunteering or giving back to the community. She often volunteered on the PTA or the school lunchroom during our time in elementary school. When we got to high school, she volunteered her time running fundraisers for the various sport teams we were apart of at that time. After she was diagnosed with lung cancer, she spent time volunteering for different support groups. Along the way, she was always generous to give money to causes and organizations that we were associated with or that aligned with her core values. Simply put, she spent her life making our community better.
That’s why I wanted to launch a financial planning firm that focused on individuals that have a desire to give back, either through their time and efforts, or through charitable donations. These “ideal” clients are a representation of her. I believe that we all have an obligation to better the world around us and to find the purpose in our lives and to align our resources with that purpose. No one exemplified that more than my mom.
I’m not sure what the future holds, but I’d like to think that my mom is watching and is proud of the path that I’ve chosen. She was the best role model.
I love you mom.