Hello and Welcome! I’m happy that you’re here.
My name is Mariela Garcia.
I was born and raised in California by hard-working immigrant parents. Besides the importance of gratitude and hard work they also gave me the gift of bilingualism. I am fluent in English and Spanish.
I am married and am a mom to 3 girls ages 6, 7, and 14.
My dream since I was in my teens was to be self-employed. I had tons of ideas but never had the courage or confidence to follow through. Instead, I did as I was told and went to college right after high school. Got a job, got married, had children etc…
It was not until I turned 40 that I knew exactly what I wanted to do. My vision became very clear and there was no stopping me. I got the certifications needed and continue to invest in my learning.
Once I felt financially secure and had the support from my husband I resigned from my job as a consultant in Early Childhood Education to become a Financial Wellness Professional.
Personal finance has always been a passion of mine. Growing up, my parents fought about money a lot. It was very stressful to be in that environment. I swore that I would do things differently.
Not having any financial literacy skills when I left home, I did make some bad choices in my early adulthood. I got the credit cards, got into debt, and got a used car that had a super high-interest rate (11%).
When I met my husband in my late 20’s I realized that it was time to get serious about my finances. I started learning about personal finance via books, radio shows, conferences. I also got my highest paying job to date and began investing in my company’s 401k.
I have recently reached Coast FIRE, which means that I no longer have to invest in retirement. I own a home and am still paying it off.
My dream is to own a pool home in the desert, a home with a hot tub in the mountains and an RV.
Why am I here?
I never imagined I would be in the financial position that I am today. I have not followed in anyone’s footsteps because I don’t know anyone who has taken the risks that I have. I am humbled and extremely grateful being in the position that I am.
I am here to show everyone that it doesn’t matter what color you are or how much you make. You are capable to living the life you are intended to live. With careful planning, foucs and persistence nothing is beyond reach.
My money philosophy is:
- Invest in yourself
- Invest in your learning
- Invest in your children
- Invest in the world
- Invest in your future
- Invest in your well-being
Over the years, I have earned the following:
- Masters of Public Administration
- Certified Financial Coach
- Certified Life Coach
- Certified Parenting Expert
See what my clients are saying.
Thank you for your getting me started on my financial journey. After attending your course on budgeting, I began writing down my expenses and started tackling my money spending head-on.
Yvette Martin
After working with Mariela, I have gained new confidence in how I perceive my income! Thank you Mariela for your guidance and money tools.
Jessica Barajas
Facing where I was with my finances was very overwhelming as I had debt, no emergency fund, and impending medical bills. Mariela met me exactly where I was and made me feel like I had control of my finances after just one session! In less than 6 months I was able to pay off all credit card debt, pay medical bills as they came (without charging on credit card), and started investing in my emergency fund.
Estephania Lopez
Learning about my finances and how to better organize my money has helped me feel more confident about myself. Thanks to my finance coach, the knowledge is spilling over to my daughter who I am excited to teach about money management! Thank you for sharing this knowledge and for being my finance mentor, this experience has really changed my life.