We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Perri a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to start your own firm or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, yes, I would have started this journey to help change the lives of women much sooner. But I don’t think I would have been emotionally ready. It took me a long time to work through the trauma that I experienced and to be able to openly talk about it. Once I realized that talking about it helped in the healing process, I made it my mission to share my story to help other women move from trauma to triumph.

As a survivor of domestic abuse and self-made millionaire, I believe women who have experienced trauma and divorce are underestimated – widely viewed as broken and damaged goods. So, I’ve committed myself to bringing transformational change to how women rebuild their lives after devastation. I started a firm that equips and empowers women to live financially fearless, embrace their inner worth, and become their own hero. I educate and provide resources that elevate financial literacy, mindset development and divorce support to create and cement true independence.

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I was in my 20’s, I found myself in a volatile marriage marked by mental, emotional, and physical abuse. The relationship finally imploded, thankfully, but left me broken and my abuser imprisoned. At the time, I had limited resources to keep my family afloat. I did not know who to turn to for guidance or how to pick up the pieces of my life. I felt completely lost and isolated.

As painful as those dark days were, my divorce ultimately saved my life in more ways than one. As I continued my journey to heal and find purpose, I felt led to help other women; a way to take my “mess” and make it my “message.” I wanted to become for other women the person I desperately needed but could not find. My experiences helped me turn my wounds into wisdom and to this day, I remain determined to help other women transition from trauma to triumph.

Through my work with my coaching & consulting firm, I have been able to help hundreds of women manage their toughest seasons victoriously, such as their divorce, escape from abuse, loss of a loved one, and career transitions. As an Empowerment and Mindset Coach, I help women find their financial confidence, reclaim their power, and be the shero in their stories.

I was once asked that if I could inspire a movement, what would that be. It would be for women to feel empowered to live as their authentic selves. No need to hide who they are or what they want from their lives. There are so many women who spend their lives living it to please what other people want for them or expect them to do. I try to empower each woman that I meet to embrace their worth and live life on their terms, no one else’s.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My story, like most women, has multiple chapters and some are better than others. My first marriage was one filled with abuse and heartache and it really shaped who I am as a person. It has also fueled my desire to help other women. I have spent my adult life trying to heal from all that I experienced.

Just as I started to come to grips with my abusive past, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome at the end of 2021 that paralyzed me and took away my ability to walk for months. This chapter of my life has been the toughest, but I have also learned the most about myself, my resilience and the relationships in my life. Through much determination and an incredibly strong support system, I am recovering ahead of schedule, and I know my health will be completely restored.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what makes me unique is that I have a life filled with experiences that people can relate to and learn from. I have been through abuse. I have been through divorce and being a single mom. I have been through loss and a serious health issue. I know how hard it is to try to pick up the pieces and make sense of a life that I didn’t break. Having been around wealth managers and financial consultants for 20 + years I can honestly tell you that there is a desperate need for a revolution in the financial advisory space. I strive to do that in my little piece of the world in Georgia.

There are so many wonderful financial advisory firms out there, but there are also some that shouldn’t be allowed to manage anyone’s money, ever. When a person has been through a major life event or is planning to go through one, there are many things that need to be addressed, it’s not just about their money. Helping them navigate the emotional aspects of the transition is equally important, if not more, than the financial pieces. In addition, the very last thing they need from an advisor is to be moved out of the driver’s seat and relinquish control, but I see it happen all the time. Women need to be a huge part of the planning, the strategies and have a complete and transparent understanding of what the advisor is doing and why they are doing it.

I start at the very beginning with my clients and make sure they understand their money personality and how that impacts their financial life. Then we break through any money hang-ups and barriers they may have that will prevent them from being successful. They remain in the driver’s seat at all times. I am merely a passenger watching the blind spots and the potholes to help them navigate and be prepared as best as they can. Money is the cornerstone of all aspects of our lives and having a healthy relationship with it changes everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JenniferPerri.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jperricoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jperricoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlperri/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jperricoaching
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCumJYQylq0R2-G0mVs0cj-w

Image Credits
Photos by Mike Dunn