Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Davis, Cpa, Cfp®. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

In the financial industry, Corporate America often focuses too much on strategies—things like how to budgeting, cutting expenses, paying off debt, tax planning—and completely misses the mark when it comes to our relationship with money. The truth is, your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions about money are the real game-changers. Without addressing those, it’s hard to create lasting change or build real wealth.

I’ll never forget a client I worked with who really brought this to life. She was in a well-paying corporate job and building her business on the side. Her plan was to leave her job in a year, but when we started working together, she was stuck in a cycle of fear and stress. She was afraid of what might happen if her business didn’t bring in enough money. Here’s the wild part—she had $250,000 in cash sitting in the bank and was still terrified of leaving her job. That scarcity mindset kept her from seeing all the possibilities right in front of her.

Once we started working on her mindset, everything shifted. She left her job in just two months—way ahead of schedule—and her business took off, growing to seven times what she made in her corporate role. But it wasn’t just about the money. She also started taking better care of herself, lost weight, and built stronger connections with her family.

Her story is such a great reminder that it’s not just about the numbers or the strategies. The real work is in shifting how you think and feel about money. Corporate America often misses that, but it’s the key to unlocking true financial success.

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’m a CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and licensed life insurance agent with a passion for helping women—especially high-achieving Black women—take control of their finances and build wealth with clarity and confidence.

My journey into the financial industry wasn’t something I planned; it was born out of necessity. As a single teen mom who had just graduated from high school, I needed to choose a career that would pay well and offer stability. Accounting fit the bill, so I went to school for it. Over the next decade, I built my career in public accounting. While I enjoyed the work, I eventually burned out. By then, I was a single mom to a second daughter and realized I needed more control over my time and my future. That’s when I decided to create my own firm, AGA Tax & Consulting Services. It gave me the flexibility to prioritize my family while building something meaningful that aligned with my passion for empowering others.

I’ve always been drawn to finances because I know the power and options that come with having your money in order. But what I’ve learned along the way is that financial strategies alone aren’t enough—you also need a healthy mindset. That’s why my work goes beyond the numbers. I focus on helping clients address not only the tactical side of money but also the emotional and mental blocks that hold them back.

At AGA Tax & Consulting Services, I provide services like strategic tax planning, financial makeovers, and my signature Wealth Audit. This is an in-depth review of six vital areas of a client’s business to uncover financial leaks, improve systems, and create a personalized roadmap to wealth. Through my retreats, workshops, and coaching, I help women shift their mindset, take actionable steps, and build lives that align with their biggest goals.

What sets me apart is my ability to combine technical expertise with lived experience. As one of only 5% of Black women who hold both the CPA and CFP certifications, I know firsthand how to navigate financial challenges, having climbed out of $50,000 in debt to build a net worth of over $300,000. My clients often tell me I have a gift for solving problems, creating clarity, and helping them connect the dots between their financial goals and the life they want.

One of my proudest moments came while recording a podcast episode with Kim Coles—the hilarious actress, comedian, and author you may know as Sinclair from Living Single. During our conversation, I shared a tool I give my clients called “Money Date Nights,” which reframes the way we approach money by treating it like a relationship.

Kim loved the concept. She mentioned she had never thought of money that way before and even said she wanted to start implementing the tip herself. This moment was particularly meaningful for me because Kim is someone surrounded by affluent individuals, yet my advice still made a strong impact on her. Knowing that my work could resonate and provide value to someone of her stature was an incredibly proud and validating moment for me.

My mission is to inspire and empower women to pursue their dreams, feel confident in their financial decisions, and build wealth on their own terms. I want potential clients to know that I’m not just here to crunch numbers—I’m here to help you see the bigger picture, break through limiting beliefs, and achieve a life of wealth, happiness, health, and wholeness. I currently reside in Bradenton, Fl with my two daughters. In my free time, I enjoy traveling to the Caribbean, enjoying trips to luxury spas, and am a personal development junkie. Lastly, I am the best selling author of the anthology book, Awareness Put Me On. This book was laced with sooooo many gems from myself and fellow co-authors. I am also a 2024 Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Minority Business of the Year finalist, Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Graduate.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivoting from a full-time corporate employee to a full-time entrepreneur and single mom was one of the most defining moments of my life. It wasn’t just a career change—it was a complete shift in how I viewed myself, my future, and my potential.

I had already achieved so many firsts in my family. I was the first to graduate college, make six figures on a job, and buy a home. As a first-generation entrepreneur, there was a lot of pressure to stay on the traditional path. I was on track to become a partner at a prestigious local accounting firm, a position that represented years of hard work, stability, and success. Stepping away from that was no small decision.

Leaving corporate to start my own firm was a massive adjustment. It wasn’t just about finances—although those were definitely a factor—it was also about redefining my identity and facing every insecurity I had. Those fears were magnified by 10 during this pivot. I was walking away from what I had worked so hard to achieve and stepping into the unknown with no guarantees. It was truly a faith walk.

The pivot forced me to look at my finances differently. I had to learn how to manage irregular income, budget in new ways, and make strategic financial decisions for both my family and my business. But the changes didn’t stop there. My support system shifted as I leaned on new mentors, networks, and even my own inner strength. The journey was deeply spiritual, requiring me to confront past issues and grow in ways I never expected.

Looking back, I’m so thankful for the pivot. It challenged me to grow, face my fears, and heal old wounds. It also allowed me to create a life that aligns with my values, where I can spend more time with my daughters and use my expertise to empower others. That decision wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely worth it. It taught me that sometimes, stepping into uncertainty is the only way to unlock the life you truly deserve.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that getting more clients required more hustle. For years, I thought that working harder and longer hours was the key to success. Coming from public accounting, where 60-70-hour workweeks were the norm and pay was directly tied to how much you worked, hustle was ingrained in me. When I transitioned to entrepreneurship, I carried that same mindset—believing that more effort would always lead to more results.

But I quickly realized that wasn’t true. In fact, the opposite was often the case. I remember a turning point vividly. I had been traveling for weeks, focused on business conferences and other work, with little time for social media or active marketing. At one of those conferences, someone I barely knew introduced me to a platform seeking financial coaches. Because they had been quietly following my LinkedIn posts, they thought I would be a great fit. That single introduction brought me 40 leads.

It was a wake-up call. Months of relentless social media posting, sending DMs, and attending endless networking events had brought me fewer results than simply being consistent in who I am and allowing my work to speak for itself. That experience forced me to unlearn the constant hustle and instead focus on being.

For me, that means being the best version of myself, working on my energy, and trusting that I’ve built a solid foundation for success. I had to believe that success doesn’t come from grinding myself into the ground but from showing up authentically and working smarter, not harder. Ironically, when I look back at my financials, the months I worked the least are often the ones where I earned the most.

It took time to embrace this shift—I used to roll my eyes when I heard people talk about working less and earning more. But I’ve learned there’s something powerful about having a regulated nervous system, trusting yourself, and, yes, trusting the universe. I know that might sound “woo-woo,” especially coming from an accountant, but it’s been my experience. These days, I’m a firm believer that success is as much about who you are as it is about what you do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agataxservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewealthstrategist_alex/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandriadaviscpa/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexCDavis
• Other: Free Lead Magnet: https://alexcdavis.thrivecart.com/desired-lifestyle-habit-2/