In Meena's Words

I once cooked a 50-course dinner for my brother's 50th birthday.

It was a lot of fun, borderline over the top, and took us twenty hours over two days to finish every dish. It was a dinner none of us will forget.

Pulling this off requires a clear vision and months of thoughtful planning, the same approach I've used for more than thirty years to help clients achieve their retirement goals. 

Being an effective financial advisor requires a mix of skills. I am grateful for a career that allows me to bring together my natural inclination for planning, my personal interests, and the expertise I’ve gained over decades.

My natural inclination for planning...

I like what someone wise once said that planning is about bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it NOW.

As a born planner, I map out everything from A to Z. It's the best way I know to help people get from point A to point B with the greatest chance of success and the fewest surprises along the way.

Whether it is orchestrating a 50-course dinner or guiding someone through a 30-year retirement, my approach is the same: thoughtful planning, careful execution, and a healthy dose of passion.

Although I can't cook a 50-course dinner for every client, each of them receives that same structured, attentive planning to help them achieve their retirement goals.

My personal interest in writing . . .

For years, I've enjoyed being a personal finance columnist and an award-winning book writer. In 2026, I will publish my second book after twenty-three years: Inspiration From 9,000 Miles Away. 

Beyond the quiet joy writing brings me, the process has taught me two invaluable lessons that make me a better advisor.

First, writing has helped me cut through noise and focus on what truly matters.

Second, writing has strengthened my ability to step into someone's shoes, to understand their values, concerns, and aspirations on a deeper level.

The best financial advisors, in my mind, are those who can truly understand where their clients come from, where they hope to go, and help them get there by focusing on what matters most.

My training and experience form the foundation beneath it all . . .

Being a competent financial advisor requires foresight and a solid base of academic training and professional experience.

Prior to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® PROFESSIONAL in 1996, I spent years working as a CPA, primarily in tax. The rigorous training required by both professions, combined with more than three decades in wealth management, has given me the insight and market knowledge to be the kind of advisor I would want for my own parents.

Thank you for stopping by. I wish you great success and happiness in your retirement.