I just started working on the Playgound Financial Planner, but the idea has long been on my mind. I am not a person that business concepts came easy to. In fact, I was a Philosophy/French Double Major in a very liberal, liberal arts school that took 1 business class in undergrad (macro economics), and I think I got a C. I know this will surprise you, but after graduation, people are not looking to pay you to philosophize in French, so as many people did in 2003 I toddled off to Law School. I quickly realized in law school to be an effective attorney, much less an effective person, I probably should know something about basic business and finance, so I decided to apply for the joint MBA program. In 2007 I graduated with my Law Degree and MBA.
About Julia
Welcome to Playground Financial Planner
- Working to empower women in creating a strong understanding of their families' health & finances
I just made this sound really easy, but IT. WAS. NOT. A philosophy major, without ANY undergrad business class education in MBA school with all business people is like a cat swimming around in the whale tank at the aquarium. Fortunately, I met a ton of wonderful people who were willing to show me how those crazy calculators worked, and once someone explained that debits and credits are opposite of what I thought, then I was on my way. In fact, I loved it.
I finished my MBA and my law degree, passed the bar, but never practiced law. I went straight into Personal Financial Planning for high net worth individuals. No, I was not a broker. I did comprehensive financial plans, which means I helped people in all areas, cash flow, budgeting, insurance, investing, taxes, and estate planning.
But as usual, man plans and God laughs. I got married to my wonderful husband, Zack, had a child and that child did not do well in the land of day care germs. This is when I learned that if you do not have your health then you have nothing. I never ever planned to be stay-at-home, but Charles got EVERYTHING. We averaged 5-10x month at the pediatricians office (I am facebook friends with the nurses) My husband travels, and my wonderful company that had unlimited sick pay was paying me to be home with a sick baby, so I gave 5 months notice, and ended up stay-at-home mom. I loved my job. It was difficult to quit, but I felt like a horrible mom and a horrible employee and I had to choose. I made the choice that I felt worked for my family.
Guess what? I loved being stay-at-home! Once I started learning about nutrition, Charles stopped getting sick. Not another sick visit for 3.5 years, and he has been in school. I found a side business I love and I now have two little boys (Charles “Cho Cho” & Henry “Henny Penny”). I seriously, digress. Playground Financial Planner was born from my friends. When people find out about my back ground they often have questions, and guess where we usually are? I wanted to bring my old knowledge to my new life and share with others, because I know these topics seem daunting, but listen if a philosophy major can learn about health and finance, then anyone can!