Growing up, Nicky’s grandparents were an influential part of her life and she recalls, “My Papa always said that I should be a mechanic because I wanted to take things apart and discover how they work. He inspired me so much with his military service that I carry his dog tag with me to remind me that my first job is to serve others before I serve myself.” As a child with special needs in a family of six children, Nicky remembers, “Being in a wheelchair and having to learn resiliency and patience to overcome this struggle taught me to find a way to make it work.” She knew her special needs were temporary and that she would be able to walk again one day. After struggling and relearning how to walk, she was determined to help others. After she healed from her injuries, she earned her second-degree black belt in karate, participated in a triathlon in support of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Chicago Marathon in support of Special Olympics, and an Ironman triathlon in support of the Wounded Warrior Project. Through her work for life, she finds that people remove their fear by connecting with and leaning on others.Financial planning and managing competing priorities requires integrating moving pieces including attention to detail and knowing not only how to take the pieces apart, but to put them back together in a way that fits and makes sense. Working collaboratively with her clients, she makes what seems complex, simple to understand, she creates a work-optional lifestyle, and together with clients, they plan and organize so that the focus is not on just one challenge, but the entire family.Nicky began her career in financial services as a Wealth Advisor Associate and much like she did in her youth, “I took apart the fragments of my extensive training and put the pieces back together in a cohesive way that can best serve my clients.” Since earning her MBA, she is determined to share her passion and enthusiasm for finance with the next generation of the industry. She currently teaches Finance at Harper, NYU, JCU UCLA. She began her practice by serving families affected by special needs and helps them to rest assured that they can focus on their entire families and not just the fear that arises as a result of having a child with special needs.Nicky’s time outside of work is spent with her alumni societies and volunteering with Savvy Ladies, an organization determined to reduce disparities in financial education, 3rd Decade, Hire Heroes, and Alpha Phi Omega. She and her wife, Lauren, enjoy training for triathlons with their rescue dogs.