Today we’d like to introduce you to Mernie Mendoza.
Hi Mernie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ever since I was 4 years old, I wanted to be a doctor. My father was diagnosed with diabetes around that time so 4 year old me decided to become a doctor so that I could cure my dad’s diabetes. Fast forward to my first semester as a pre-med student, I realized at this point that I did not enjoy studying biology or chemistry. I was starting to question if I really wanted to become a doctor. It was around this time that my mom, who had been a teacher and a librarian my entire life, told me that she was starting a new career in financial services. She asked me to go with her to one of her training sessions. Reluctantly I attended the seminar with her. To me, it was like a foreign language. I had no idea what they were talking about. Growing up, I didn’t really know anyone in finance. I had no examples of what a career in financial services looked like so there was no point of reference for me. The only thing I knew about money was how to spend my parents’ money, which was easy to do. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue a career in finance, but my mom told me something that stuck with me. She said “you can pursue a career in medicine if you’d like, but if you don’t learn how money works, you will end up becoming a broke doctor.” Something about that just resonated with me. She also continued “you can learn about how money works so that when you do become a doctor, you’re not stressed out about money. If you become financially literate, you can do pro bono work and treat patients who need your help and can’t afford it.” That’s when it hit me. The only reason I wanted to become a doctor is because I really wanted to help people in a meaningful way. So I decided to start my career in financial services on a part time basis while still in college. I changed my major to business administration and eventually ended up with a degree in Economics. This year marks my 24th year of being in financial services. The best part is that my mom and I are still working together. Over the last 2 decades, we have helped countless individuals, families and business owners on their journeys to financial independence and security. My career has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I get to help people every single day in a meaningful way. Instead of curing people’s physical ailments, I get to help them heal their financial ailments. I am also honored to be an example for young women who are considering a career in financial services. I get to be that example I didn’t have growing up. Financial services has typically been a male dominated industry. A lot of things have changed over the last 2 decades, but women are still behind when it comes to financial literacy. This is why I am especially passionate about teaching financial literacy to women so they feel empowered. One of my favorite sayings is “empowered women empower women.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road! I had so many obstacles in my way when I got started. One of my biggest obstacles was my age. Most people are much older when they start their careers. I was only 19 years old when I was introduced to financial services. The only reason I even had the opportunity to start was because of my mom. I struggled tremendously in the beginning because I was always the youngest person in the room. My age, coupled with my gender, caused me to struggle for the first few years. It was really hard as a young female to build a career in a male dominated industry where the average age of a financial advisor is 55. I was told to act like I was 45 and married with kids so that people would take me seriously. It’s an understatement to say that I had a hard time fitting in sometimes. Although it has been a long and hard road, I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mernie Mendoza, CFEd®️?
I am a Certified Financial Educator. When I was deciding on which of the many designations available to me in my industry I wanted to pursue, a Certified Financial Educator made the most sense. Because of my mom’s background in education, I have always had a big love for education. I approach all of my client meetings with an education-first approach. I am so fortunate to have found a company that values education as much as I do. I am partnered with WealthWave, a company with a vision to erase financial illiteracy, build and protect wealth. We help people build solid financial roadmaps using the 7 Money Milestones. The first Milestone is to acquire a financial education. We do this by providing free financial literacy workshops for individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. We have several books in our The Money Books series, and we give people the opportunity to request a free copy of one of our books. We also provide a complimentary financial needs analysis. We work with people from all walks of life and we do not require a minimum net worth or investable assets to work with us.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I love supporting local businesses and schools. If I can be a resource for your business or school, please do not hesitate to reach out. I also love collaborating with other female entrepreneurs and am always looking for opportunities to connect with women business owners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://HowMoneyWorks.com/mernie
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/merniemendoza
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/how.money.works-merniemendoza
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mernie
- Other: https://taketheflq.com/mernie
