Stasie Jones

I attribute my success to my faith in God, resilience, and determination to keep moving forward despite life’s challenges. Experiencing divorce, bankruptcy, and restarting my career after stepping away to raise my family gave me firsthand insight into the realities of financial planning and the importance of preparation. Rebuilding from the ground up—both personally and professionally—taught me discipline, perseverance, and self-belief. Today, I remain grounded in my faith, focused on continuous growth, and committed to pushing forward with confidence, knowing that challenges are temporary and progress comes from persistence.

The best career advice I've received is to understand your 'why' and stay grounded in it. You have to have the why of what you're doing - we can figure out the how, but why are you doing it? That clarity of purpose is what keeps you going, especially during difficult times. I've learned to be a very intuitive and empathic listener to people, to find the part of what drives them, because at the end of the day, whether it's making decisions for my family or my own health, or stewarding all of these different clients and their finances and listening to their stories and what their priorities are, I have to trust that God is our source and He's gonna give me insight on what they might need. Understanding that 'why' helps me organize their finances to reflect what truly matters to them.

My industry was, and still is, very much a boys club, so we need more representation. Though it may be hard to get in, take your time with it, and know that your path doesn't have to be the same as anybody else's. People will talk about how they got through an Ivy League school, knew this person, went to investment banking and all that, but I say no - just do what you can do at your pace. Get your degree, talk to everyone, and don't be afraid to talk to everyone. Build out that network. I know a lot of the younger generation kind of shrinks back from that, but we need people. People need people. We were built to relate to others, and we can't neglect that. Build out your school network, build out your friendships - not everybody has to be your best friend, but build those social networks. Always invest in yourself. Advocate for yourself. Find people that are on your same team, be willing to share your dreams and what you're hoping to do in your career, and get advice. Be teachable. Have that attitude of 'hey, I'm here to learn, I'm here to help,' and you'll find your way. But definitely keep going and keep growing. Persistence is key.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the widespread lack of financial literacy, largely due to gaps in early education that leave many individuals unprepared to manage credit, budgeting, debt, and investing when they enter adulthood. This often results in people starting their financial lives at a disadvantage, carrying debt and uncertainty that could have been mitigated with earlier exposure to these concepts. A major opportunity, however, is the ability to change this trajectory by expanding financial education in schools and communities. I am passionate about making financial literacy more accessible and practical through early, hands-on learning experiences and community education, such as workshops in schools and local libraries. By helping people build confidence and understanding from a young age, we can reduce financial fear and empower individuals to make informed decisions that lead to long-term stability and well-being.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, family, and resilience. My faith in God is the foundation of everything I do and guides how I approach each day, including starting with prayer and reflection to remain grounded and focused. Family is equally important to me, and I have intentionally prioritized being present in my children’s lives, including stepping back from my career at one point to cherish those early moments. Resilience is also central to who I am, shaped by the understanding that while I cannot control everything in life, I can choose to trust, adapt, and keep moving forward. In my work, these values translate into empathy, active listening, and a commitment to helping clients align their financial decisions with what truly matters to them, even in an uncertain world.