We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tremaine Wills. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tremaine below.

Tremaine, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump into the story of starting your own firm – what should we know?

I started my career in financial services in 2012 after completing my Master’s Degree. Very quickly I learned that I wasn’t going to be able to have the impact that I wanted if I stayed in that capacity. From being called “little black girl” by a client to getting told to “stop b”tching” by a coworker, I wasn’t in a safe space. I wanted to create a safe space for women of color to build wealth and learn along the way. After 2 years and a couple more bruises from an unwelcoming work environment, I left and went back home. I made it just in time to spend a couple of months with my grandmother before she passed away unexpectedly. I was devastated. I fell into a deep depression.

In late November of 2014, I decided that I would use what I learned to teach financial literacy. That’s when my company was born. It started as a side hustle as I continued to navigate what I was going to do full-time. A year later I found myself enrolled with Teach for America and knee-deep in doing the hard work to change lives in severely distressed economic areas. 4 years in the classroom was long enough for me to realize that it would take more capital and more time to really change entire communities so I stopped teaching and decided to become a full-time entrepreneur.

I was terrified. I didn’t know anyone who looked like me that had their own investment advisory practice and I felt very alone. Finally, I found my tribe, and then I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would start to gain traction. From quotes in Yahoo Finance to features on Wall Street Journal podcast and being named Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisor, this little black girl was making big waves.

If I had to do anything differently, I would have started full-time sooner and done more things afraid. The fear doesn’t go away. You just learn to move with courage and confidence.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was destined to become an entrepreneur. I had my first business at 12. It was called Tame Your Mane, Braids by Tremaine. I quickly learned how to use my skills to make money but I didn’t know how to turn that money into more money so I went to college to study business and learn what wasn’t being talked about in my community. Now as a financial planner I help entrepreneurs begin with the end in mind with planning and making the money work harder so one day they won’t have to work at all.

I am most proud of the unique care I have for clients. As a former classroom teacher, I spend time educating my clients on the “why”. This helps the plans stick. I’m also proud of how I’ve been able to help clients grow their net worth to over $1M from negative net worth. Even though I enjoy the numbers of planning, I value relationships, and watching the transformation as people move into lives with reduced financial stress often brings me to tears.

I am grateful to be able to do this kind of work.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn to trust others with my vision. As a growing business owner, I thought it was better to do everything myself. It would be done the way I wanted it. And I was tired. Now I know that the best thing is for me to operate in my zone of genius and outsource the rest. Its a better return on my time.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Add value. People do not care how much you know unless what you know positively impacts them. Add value. it will always come back to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mindovermoney.net
• Instagram: instagram.com/tremainewills
• Facebook: facebook.com/incomeassestsandimpact
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tremainewills
• Twitter: twitter.com/tremainewills