What do you love most about working at Bloom?
I love working with the clients. I know that I am helping people. It’s why I chose this industry, but I also love listening to people’s stories.

What type of clients do you enjoy working with most?
I enjoy working with our senior clients. In my culture, we take care of and respect our elderly. It is really “paying it forward” because I know one day I will be in their position, and I have the utmost respect for the journey. I also really like working with our female clients. Women make 70 cents for every dollar a man makes, but we outlive them, so we must be smarter with our money and make our assets work harder. Inheriting is nice, but there’s no guaranteeing it. Ladies, the potential is out there; I want to see many more self-made female millionaires!

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
It would have to be my transition from the automotive industry into finance. I left the industry at a time when the auto industry was contracting. After several years, I resigned to pursue my degree full-time then went to work in investment management in the Trust department of a bank. It was the path to a dream career.

When is a time you felt you made a meaningful difference for a client?
I was working with a long-time client’s daughter who was juggling her own active family with her newly acquired duties as Power of Attorney for her mother’s finances and the insurmountable task of moving her mom into an assisted living center. The daughter was totally overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. In this industry, it is very important to listen. Even though problem-solving at a personal level was not part of my job description, it’s in my DNA to try and help.

What do you think makes Bloom special?
You’re working with a family-owned, family-focused company. We welcome your youngest family members who are planning for college or just starting their careers. Unlike banks that offer investment management, we will not cross-sell you products. Our salaries are not based on executive bonuses tied to corporate metrics, and we don’t answer to shareholders. Another big difference is that we have a team approach, and we work collaboratively to get things done. Unless you request to, you are not assigned to specific team members and therefore will not get lost in someone’s “book of business”.

What did you do before you joined Bloom?
I worked for several years in investment management for a large Trust department of a regional bank.