We recently connected with Chloe McKee and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was choosing to build a practice as a financial advisor at a young age when many people around me questioned whether I could succeed.
When I entered the industry, I was in my early twenties. Most financial advisors build credibility over decades, and I was walking into meetings with clients who often had more life experience than I had years on earth. On paper, it wasn’t the obvious career path. I didn’t have a large book of business handed to me, a built-in client base, or a guaranteed path to success. I remember realizing very quickly that this was going to be an entrepreneurial journey disguised as a profession. There was no guarantee that people would trust me with some of the most important financial decisions of their lives. Every conversation, every introduction, and every client meeting felt like an opportunity to prove myself.
The risk wasn’t just financial, it was personal. I knew there was a possibility I could invest years building a practice and still fall short of my goals. Friends pursuing more traditional careers had predictable salaries, clear promotion paths, and greater certainty. I chose a path where my success would largely depend on my ability to build relationships, create value, and persevere through rejection.
There were plenty of moments where the easier decision would have been to play it safe. Early on, I heard “no” far more often than I heard “yes.” Prospects questioned my age. Some meetings didn’t lead anywhere. There were periods where progress felt slower than I wanted. But I believed that if I could stay consistent, continue learning, and genuinely focus on helping people, the results would eventually follow.
What gave me the confidence to take that risk was my “why.” Growing up, I saw firsthand how a lack of financial guidance could create stress, uncertainty, and missed opportunities. I knew I wanted to build a career helping people make informed decisions and create financial security for themselves and their families. That mission mattered more to me than the comfort of choosing a safer path.
Looking back, the risk paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. I’ve had the opportunity to help clients navigate major life decisions, build meaningful relationships, create a growing business, and establish myself in a profession that I truly love. More importantly, I’ve learned that confidence isn’t something you have before taking a risk, it’s something you develop because you took the risk.
The biggest lesson I learned is that growth and certainty rarely exist together. Most meaningful opportunities require stepping into situations where the outcome isn’t guaranteed. If I had waited until I felt completely ready, I probably never would have started.
That experience shaped the way I approach challenges today. Whenever I’m faced with a difficult decision, I remind myself that many of the best things in my life and career came from being willing to bet on myself before I had all the answers.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Chloe McKee, and I am a financial planner dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners create financial confidence through comprehensive planning. My mission is simple: to help people shift from uncertainty to confidence by equipping them with the knowledge, systems, and guidance needed to build lasting financial security and peace of mind.
My journey into financial planning was deeply personal. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the consequences of poor financial guidance and the impact that financial decisions can have on a family’s future. I saw people work incredibly hard, yet still struggle to make informed decisions about saving, investing, protecting their income, and preparing for retirement. Those experiences sparked a desire to help others avoid the same mistakes and create opportunities for themselves and future generations.
When I entered the financial services industry, I quickly realized that financial planning is about far more than numbers. Money affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life: their family, career, health, goals, and ability to create freedom and security. The most rewarding part of my work is helping clients align their financial decisions with the life they want to live.
Today, I work with professionals, families, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to take control of their financial future. My services include comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, wealth accumulation strategies, investment management, estate planning coordination, risk management, income protection strategies, and tax-efficient wealth-building approaches. I believe that financial planning should not be a one-time event but an ongoing partnership that evolves as a client’s life changes.
One of the problems I help solve is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Many people know they should be doing more financially, but they don’t know where to start. Others have accumulated assets but lack a cohesive strategy to ensure those assets support their long-term goals. I help simplify complex financial decisions and provide a roadmap that allows clients to move forward with confidence.
What sets me apart is my commitment to education, accessibility, and relationship-driven planning. I believe financial planning should be understandable, actionable, and personalized. My goal is not simply to tell clients what to do, but to empower them to understand why they are making certain financial decisions and how those decisions contribute to their broader goals.
As a younger advisor in an industry traditionally dominated by older professionals, I have learned to approach every client relationship with humility, preparation, and a relentless focus on service. I understand that trust is earned, and I work hard every day to provide the level of care, communication, and guidance that clients deserve.
I am particularly passionate about helping women, first-generation wealth builders, and hardworking professionals who are building wealth from the ground up. Many of these individuals have not had access to financial education or trusted financial guidance, and helping them create a foundation for long-term success is incredibly meaningful to me.
Beyond my work with clients, I am committed to financial education and community involvement. I regularly participate in workshops, speaking engagements, and educational initiatives designed to help people make more informed financial decisions and feel empowered about their future.
What I am most proud of is not a specific award, title, or business milestone. I am most proud of the impact my work has on the lives of the people I serve. Whether it’s helping a family protect their future, guiding a business owner through a major transition, assisting a client in preparing for retirement, or helping someone feel less anxious about money, those moments are what drive me every day.
If there is one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it is that financial planning is not just for the wealthy. Everyone deserves access to thoughtful guidance, a clear strategy, and someone who genuinely cares about helping them achieve their goals. My brand is built on the belief that financial confidence is possible for anyone willing to take the first step, and I am honored to help people navigate that journey every day.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the greatest lessons in resilience I’ve learned came during the early years of building my financial planning practice.
Like many entrepreneurs, I started with a vision that was much larger than my current reality. I knew I wanted to build a business that would make a meaningful impact on people’s lives, but I quickly realized that passion alone doesn’t guarantee success. There were days filled with prospect meetings, networking events, phone calls, and outreach efforts that produced little immediate result. I heard “no” far more often than I heard “yes.”
As a young advisor, I also faced an additional challenge: earning credibility. I often found myself sitting across from individuals who had decades more life experience than I did. Some people questioned whether someone my age could truly guide them through important financial decisions. While those moments could have been discouraging, they forced me to develop a deeper level of preparation, professionalism, and commitment to my clients.
I remember periods where it felt like I was putting in enormous effort without seeing the results I expected. There were times when it would have been easy to become discouraged, question my path, or choose a more predictable career. Instead, I focused on controlling what I could control. I continued improving my skills, strengthening my knowledge, building relationships, and showing up consistently each day, even when the outcomes weren’t immediate.
What I learned during that season is that resilience is rarely about one dramatic moment. More often, it’s about the decision to keep moving forward when progress feels slow. It’s about maintaining belief in your vision before the evidence fully exists.
Over time, those small, consistent actions began to compound. Relationships turned into referrals. Prospects became clients. Clients became advocates. The challenges that once felt overwhelming became experiences that strengthened my confidence and sharpened my abilities as a business owner and advisor.
Looking back, I’m grateful for those difficult periods because they taught me lessons that success alone never could. They taught me patience, discipline, adaptability, and the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective. Most importantly, they taught me that setbacks are not signs to stop—they are often part of the process of becoming the person capable of achieving your goals.
Today, whenever I face a new challenge, I remind myself of those early years. The experience reinforced a belief that continues to guide me: resilience isn’t about never facing obstacles; it’s about developing the ability to keep moving forward despite them. That mindset has become one of the most valuable assets in both my personal life and professional career.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Absolutely. I believe one of the most important habits for any entrepreneur is continuous learning. Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned about leadership, business building, personal growth, and wealth creation have come from books, podcasts, and conversations with mentors who have already achieved what I’m working toward.
One book that had a significant impact on me is Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book reinforced the idea that extraordinary results are often the product of small, consistent actions compounded over time. As a financial planner, that concept resonates deeply because wealth creation works the same way. Success in business, health, relationships, and finances is often less about dramatic breakthroughs and more about disciplined daily habits.
I have also been heavily influenced by thought leaders and entrepreneurs such as Mel Robbins, Kevin O’Leary, and Sara Blakely. Mel Robbins’ work on mindset, confidence, and taking action has reinforced the importance of moving forward before you feel fully ready. Her message that confidence is built through action, not before it, has been particularly impactful throughout my entrepreneurial journey.
Kevin O’Leary’s perspective on business, cash flow, and financial discipline has shaped the way I think about building sustainable success. His emphasis on understanding the numbers behind a business and making decisions based on long-term value rather than emotion aligns closely with my own philosophy as a financial planner.
Sara Blakely’s story is one that I find especially inspiring. As the founder of Spanx, she built a billion-dollar company despite countless rejections and obstacles along the way. Her resilience, creativity, and willingness to bet on herself serve as a powerful reminder that some of the most successful entrepreneurs are simply the ones who refuse to quit when things get difficult.
Beyond books and podcasts, some of the most impactful learning experiences have come from mentorship and coaching. Early in my career, I made the decision to invest in learning from people who had already built successful businesses. Those relationships accelerated my growth by helping me avoid mistakes, expand my perspective, and think more strategically about building a practice.
Perhaps the biggest philosophical shift I’ve experienced is moving from a short-term mindset to a long-term one. Whether it’s investing, building a business, developing expertise, or creating meaningful relationships, the greatest rewards often come from consistently doing the right things over a long period of time. That belief influences nearly every decision I make today.
If there is one theme that ties all of these resources together, it is the idea that success is rarely accidental. It is usually the result of intentional habits, disciplined execution, continuous learning, and a willingness to remain committed long after the initial excitement has faded. Those principles have become foundational to both my entrepreneurial journey and the way I serve my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.commonwealthfinancialgroup.com/our-advisors/chloe-mckee
- Instagram: chlo_thefinancepro
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-mckee-a75253180/?skipRedirect=true
Image Credits
Hill Street Therapy & Wellness
PCB Marketing Solutions
Media by Christina
Photographer Isabella Ripley
Dr. Amber Bartlett
Ainsley McKee
Next Generation Artisans
Friends of Jack Foundation
Echo Social Agency
Donald McKee
Type One Fitness
Commonwealth Financial Group