Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Meadows Livingston.
Hi Mary Meadows, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my career as an early childhood special educator with a background in psychology and a Masters in Teaching. After five years of teaching, I made a career pivot into finance, working in client service for a local wealth management firm. I spent several years there learning the business and educating myself, becoming a Certified Financial Planner practitioner and a Chartered Financial Analyst, both of which have an underrepresentation of women, like much of finance. I became more aware of the gender wealth and investing gap, and I noticed that women were not engaging in their personal financial planning and investing. They did not feel comfortable in more traditional, male-dominated spaces. Seeing this need, I launched Abeona Wealth, a comprehensive financial planning and wealth management firm in October 2020 with the goal of providing empowering and approachable financial advice in the client’s best interest. As I approach my 3rd anniversary, I have served over 90 individuals and families.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I started my firm during the Pandemic, so there were plenty of bumps in the road that came along with that! Otherwise, I was thoughtful in the setup of my business, from technology choices to partners. One key relationship is with Navigate Wealth Management, who provides some of the back office functions of my firm, which reduces risk as a solopreneur and allows me to bring in big firm resources as a boutique firm. One of the most difficult parts about branching out on my own was leaving a team environment. As an extrovert, I thrive off of interactions and collaboration with others. To help with this, I moved into a shared office environment and built a network of other professionals to collaborate with. On the personal side, I got married about 2 months after I started Abeona Wealth and then divorced a little over a year later. The personal struggles gave me more insight into and empathy for my women clients going through a major life transition.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Abeona Wealth is a fee-only, fiduciary wealth management firm that serves single women, clients nearing or in retirement, and young professional families across the Southeast US. I help my clients connect financial decisions to their core values so that they feel agency and ownership over their financial story. In working together, clients chart a path forward to reach their goals and ultimately feel more peace and security in having a plan. In Roman mythology, “Abeona” is the goddess of the outward journey, and I am here to serve as a financial guide. As a former educator, I believe that I do a better job than most advisors at breaking down difficult concepts and explaining personal finance topics like risk and investing in a way that isn’t intimidating. There are no stupid questions, and I ask my clients to leave their money shame at the door.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I live in Birmingham, AL and have been here for almost 20 years. I have loved seeing the community’s commitment to revitalizing the city and to bring economic development forward in a way that strives to be inclusive to all. Also, our restaurants can’t be beat! From taco trucks to James Beard winning fine dining, we have it all. Traffic is often not too bad, we have access to more and more green space and natural areas. I can also get through airport security in about 2 minutes. I think Birmingham has more to do to bring together the suburbs and the city, and there are more efficiencies that could be put into place by cooperating across the suburban lines.
Pricing:
- Full financial plan – $3,500 for a couple or $2,500 for a single person
- Comprehensive Wealth Management begins at 1.25% annually of managed assets, subject to a $5,000 minimum annual fee
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abeonawealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abeonawealth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbeonaWealth/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-meadows-livingston-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-39064635/
Investment Advisory services offered through Navigate Wealth Management, LLC
