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

Claudia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

My story as an immigrant is as follows: I arrived in this country with many dreams and aspirations of learning the language. Like many of us, I took on tough jobs that taught me valuable lessons. I got married to my longtime boyfriend, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and we ended up separating and divorcing in 2008. Later on, I met and married my current husband, who is the father of my beautiful daughters. At that time, he lost his job, so we made the decision to leave Florida, where we were living, and start a new adventure in his home state of Texas.

Things were very difficult for us. We had to live with my mother-in-law, struggled to find work, and eventually decided to start our own construction company and grow our family. Those were tough years, but I believe they made our relationship stronger. After six years, he received a job offer in Florida, and we decided to move back in 2016. I dedicated myself to being a full-time mom to our two beautiful princesses, but I also had a strong desire to pursue a career that would allow me flexibility and generate a good income.

Of course, it wasn’t easy because I didn’t know anyone, and I had to step out of my comfort zone. That’s when I became a financial consultant and started networking. Through networking, I met someone who invited me to co-host a radio program, where I conducted interviews with entrepreneurs. Eventually, I ended up hosting the show with a group of friends, and that’s how “TU Comunidad Latina” was born. It’s now a digital platform where we empower Latino entrepreneurs through interviews, networking events, and advertising. We also have partnerships that provide education and tools to support their development in this country. Additionally, we are developing a marketplace to give local entrepreneurs in the area more visibility.

I take pride in being a connector for many people because together we grow faster.

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.

I am from Colombia, and I studied industrial engineering. However, I never practiced my career in the United States. I was looking for a job that would provide me with time flexibility for my daughters and be well-paid. That’s when I discovered my passion for financial education. I decided to study and obtain the necessary license to work in this field.

I started working for a company that I liked, but my team did not share the same ethical values, so I decided to leave. It was crucial for me to provide this knowledge to my community since we don’t have access to this type of information on wealth generation in our countries. I began attending many social and networking events to meet people, and that’s where I found another passion that I didn’t know I had.

I became a co-host on a radio program, and despite my lack of experience in the field, I realized that I enjoyed it. What motivated me was seeing the need for many entrepreneurs to be seen for their talent, products, services, and especially their stories of overcoming challenges. Within a few months, “Tu Comunidad Latina” was formed. Through this platform, I went from not knowing anyone to connecting with many entrepreneurs.

After a year full of interviews, I met someone involved in the financial industry and reconnected with a wonderful group of leaders. I made the decision to turn my hobby into a business that I could monetize while continuing to help my community. Now, we connect entrepreneurs with each other, offer visibility and advertising for their services and products, and partner with organizations that provide education and tools for entrepreneurs.

In conclusion, I understood that my purpose is to help others succeed as entrepreneurs and educate them to protect their families and create wealth intelligently. One of the challenges I faced in building my digital platform, “Tu Comunidad Latina,” was establishing a reputation that people could trust, as many immigrants have been deceived in various ways and are afraid to take the next step. However, the greatest reward I have received is the gratitude and appreciation from my community for my efforts and support.

In the field of financial consulting, another difficult challenge arises due to the lack of financial strategies in our countries compared to what is offered in the United States. Additionally, immigrants often have many limiting beliefs about money. But at the end of the day, it feels great when you provide this type of information to people, and they take it seriously, plan for their future, or at least recognize its importance.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What has helped me build my reputation is being original, being myself, and demonstrating things with factual evidence. For example, when I connect one person with another, they realize that it’s because I genuinely want to help them, not just for my own benefit. In my digital platform, “Tu Comunidad Latina,” I provide accurate information about services, products, and general information. People can definitely tell if you are helping them because you genuinely care about their success and not just for monetary gain.

Another factor that has contributed to gaining the trust of my clients in the financial industry is always speaking the truth, educating them, and providing information, whether they choose to do business with me or not. Being true to my moral and ethical values is essential to me.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My best source for acquiring new clients is through building connections with allies, providing excellent service, and relying on client referrals.

Connecting with allies has been instrumental in expanding my network and reaching potential clients. By collaborating and partnering with individuals or organizations that share similar goals and values, I am able to leverage their network and tap into new opportunities. These alliances help me gain exposure and establish credibility within the industry.

Word-of-mouth referrals from my clients have proven to be highly effective in attracting new business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://livingbenefitsexperts.com/claudianicholsfinancial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tucomunidadlatina/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apoyandolacomunidadlatina
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-nichols-7a5a2292/