This means financial literacy isn’t a “nice to have,” it is a “must have!” You feel safe and secure in your life when you’re in control of your financial life. And it’s not just about you: you have the power to set up the next generation with the financial skills to achieve and sustain financial equality. There’s too much at stake to let the idea that “women don’t understand” money last one more day.
By 2030, women will control more than 60 percent of the wealth in the United States. This means you will be responsible for such things as retirement, college education, and life insurance amongst many others. Such responsibility can be thrilling or frightening as hell. It all depends on how prepared you are. We are here to make sure you are prepared.
The financial services industry was designed by men for men. It hasn’t evolved sufficiently to meet the needs of today’s woman. Rife with jargon, overly focused on “data,” and ignorant of how women view money, financial advisors have often made women believe money management is a skill best left to the boys. We reject this belief emphatically. It’s time to take money out of the sole jurisdiction of men and put women on equal footing.
Being a Money Mentor isn’t about becoming a financial “expert.” It’s about learning a few foundational money principles that you can teach to others and put them on the right path. We can teach you these principles and give you the confidence to share your knowledge with others.
Yes, we’re being serious. Let’s get real: there’s nothing more riveting than your own worth. And when you have a community of women who talk about money this way, the entire game changes. The more you learn and understand, the more exciting and accessible money management becomes — and the brighter your future will look.
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Heather joined the team in 2017 where she presented on helping women navigating divorce. Her focus is caring for a woman’s emotional well-being. Since then, she’s become a money mentor to empower women when it comes to finances and divorce. As a woman who has gone through divorce, single parenting and remarriage, Heather has a heart to empower women and has partnered with enlightenHer to do so.
Heather earned a BA in Communications from Miami University and a Masters in Applied Communication and Methodology from Cleveland State University and has 22 years of experience in communications, including 15 years of life coaching and helping women reach their goals. You may know her from the work she continues to do at heatherhetchlercoaching.com. She has a passion for educating, encouraging, and empowering women. She resides in Cleveland with her husband, and rescue dog as all six kids have successfully launched!
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“Look for the beauty in everyday. Some days you have to look harder, but if you do – you’ll find it.”
Ed Vargo, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®, CDFA®, founder of Burning River Advisory Group, grew up in inner-city Cleveland. During the Vietnam War, Ed’s father served as a sergeant military policeman in South Korea where he met and married Ed’s mother. Once back in the States, Ed’s mother faced the challenges of a being a first-generation immigrant who couldn’t read or write English or drive a car.
Above all, Ed saw his mother struggle as she was not educated in financial matters. A strong-willed and capable woman, she was nevertheless stuck in an unhealthy relationship, unable to control her own well-being. She was financially dependent and had few options for finding a better life. Eventually, she was able to find the power and resources to end the marriage but her struggles left a lasting imprint on Ed and the values he holds dear as a husband, father, and advisor.
Ed’s father, a steelworker, did what he could as a single dad of four young children. Growing up in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood — a proud, hard-working community (but one not known for its college acceptance rates) — Ed worked hard in school eventually attending Case Western Reserve University. There he earned a BS degree in Management and met his college sweetheart and future wife, Wendy.
Ed and Wendy are now the proud parents of five — yes, five — charismatic daughters. Ed knows how much financial strength matters to the health, safety, and opportunity of a woman’s life, and he’s determined to raise his girls to be as strong, independent, and powerful as possible. He firmly believes that without financial equality, women will never achieve full equality. He wants this for his girls and for all women.
This deeply personal commitment to women’s empowerment is the powerful undercurrent running through Burning River. Ed also believes deeply that a woman’s hard work — as an individual, a professional, an artist, a mother, or anywhere in between — deserves to be recognized and supported. Providing customized financial solutions with a compassionate and caring hand, he is committed to helping women achieve financial independence.
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“Women cannot be fully empowered unless they are financially empowered.”
Melana Carbary, CFP®, CLU®, CDFA®, grew up in a small Ohio town, the daughter of a second-generation railroading family. While extremely close with all of her family, Melana shared a special bond and relationship with her mother. Her mom’s strong role within the family led Melana to be the strong, independent woman she is today and helped shape her career and passion for working with women.
Melana strives to live simply, be a prudent steward of her money, and create a life full of meaningful experiences. Her journey is about collecting memories, not “things.”
She is most proud of the role she served in supporting her mom during her battle with cancer. She is also now the proud auntie of two beautiful nieces.
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“If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” ~ Morris West