When Sherri Kitzberger started her career in California working for Jenny Craig, she found her life full of purpose, not only helping women with their health, but also with their careers.
“I absolutely loved that job,” she said.
Starting in sales, then moving to management and on to being a national trainer, Kitzberger eventually found herself back in her birthplace of Cleveland to open the company’s northern Ohio region. But, like many women do, she quit her job when she became pregnant with her second child to stay home. That’s when her career as a financial advisor began.
“I wanted to be a mom but also have a career,” she said.
Since her husband was already in the business, it was a career shift where she found support and a way to be supportive to him as well. They owned their company together from 1997 to 2010, when they partnered with a company that allowed their advisors to focus more on the best interests of their clients financial needs.
Coming from her background with Jenny Craig, this personal approach was not only something Kitzberger was good at, it helped her regain that passion for helping people.
In 2012, she got her license and attended a client event, where for the first time as a licensed financial advisor, she spoke to a room full of women. And they responded.
“Finance is a man’s world,” she said. “I saw a need for women to become involved in their finances.”
Kitzberger discovered that night that women want to be involved in their financial future, but need guidance.
“Women have a very different approach to finances,” she said. “They want to be talked to beyond numbers. They want someone to create a picture of their life, who understands their fears, their challenges, but will also help them and guide them.”
Not only did Kitzberger see that women needed help with finances, she found that newly divorced women especially needed support. So, she got her CDFA license, making her a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
“Clients were coming to me, newly divorced and just taking control of their finances for the first time in their lives,” she said. “We’re not raised (as women) to have control over the finances. We’re not marketed to.”
So, she said gaining a simple education about money, having someone hold your hand through the process and keeping you on a path is empowering.
“Some women are fearful,” she said. “I help them overcome that fear and gather the knowledge.”
Divorce is an emotional, sometimes scary time. Kitzberger said having a CDFA on your side to to provide information and logical support really helps. And once the divorce is final, Kitzberger said having that support to build your financial future is really important.
“The first step is to have a plan, a picture of what you want to achieve,” she said. “And have a strong mindset.”
She said having a scarcity mindset is what often keeps women from taking control and making their money work for them. Things like thinking an advisor would cost too much, or thinking that you have nothing to start with, keeps you from moving forward.
“I work on people shifting that mindset,” she said. “So much if what I do is being a financial life coach.”
Kitzberger said some women think it’s too late to start or that they cannot do it on their own.
“It’s never too late,” she said. “And a man is not a plan.”
She said another good reason to be involved in your finances, even when you’re married, is so you know what you can do with your life. Saving until the end or not knowing until late in life what you have to work with, isn’t the best plan either.
“Live the life you want to live, and be involved,” she said.
Kitzberger is taking clients and encourages anyone who wants to know more about controlling their financial future should just call and have that first conversation.
To reach out to Sherri Kitzberger, go to
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrikitzberger/
Sherri A. Kitzberger, CDFA™
Founding Partner | Private Wealth Manager
Olympia Wealth & Life Management
Beachwood Office
3750 Park East Drive, Suite 200
Beachwood, Ohio 44122-4348
(440) 505-5746 Direct – Beachwood
(440) 505-5746 Fax
(216) 835-9524 Mobile