I read a quote once by T Alan Armstrong that said, “Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.” Only when I reflect on the last 30 years, and the pivotal moments that have lead me to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, CFP® and Western Australia Chapter Chair of the Financial Planning Association, that I can truely appreciate the depth and meaning of this quote.
You see, I stumbled upon the power of financial literacy at the age of 14, not by accident, but by necessity. I was the youngest of 5 children and daughter of migrants parents, who had sacrificed every last cent they had to give their children a better future. Feeding a household of 7 meant that the purse-strings were constantly stretched.
At age 14, I was faced with the news that Mum and Dad could no longer afford the school fees to send me to a private school. Having already spend 2 years at that school, I felt a sense of belonging and the desire to complete my education. So rather than accept my fate, I applied for a part-time job, devised a financial plan to fund my school fees, taught myself the concepts of saving and budgeting, and went on to graduate ‘Top of the Class’.
Armed with this one learnable skill, meant that I could also go on to create financial security for my parents. I discovered very quickly my passion for numbers and making a difference in the lives of others, that I continued my education in Finance, had the privilege of becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, CFP® and went on to build an award winning financial planning firm.
My role as a Financial Planner isn’t simply about investing money. At its core, it is about guiding others to live a life with purpose and passion, that fulfills their heart’s desire that brings happiness and security. It fills me with joy to know the impact we have made in the lives of many.
Because of this journey, today I get to spread the message of financial empowerment and give back to the profession that has given me so much more. Great things have happened FOR me and TO me because I found my Passion!
Fran Hughes 