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

Hi Naqebullah, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My MISSION STORY

When I was growing up, I never understood why we had to keep moving. First, we left our home for an apartment, and then we moved from apartment to apartment. I would make friends, then have to say goodbye and start over again. The first day of school was always hard because I was the new kid. Looking back, I realize that this made me better at talking to strangers and making new friends. It was like I was trained for it from a young age.

Before my freshman year of high school, my parents split up. Money problems were a big part of why they separated. My mom worked hard to make sure we didn’t run out of money, but my dad had trouble with spending and gambling. I love my dad, but I feel like he gave up when we really needed him. My older brother, Mo, who is just two years older than me, stepped up and became the man of the house. At just 15, he got a job to help support our family after my dad left. I can’t imagine the pressure he felt, taking on so much at such a young age.

Seeing all of this is why I decided to work in finance when I was 18. At first, I just followed in my brother’s footsteps. But as I learned more about money and saw how many families especially those in underserved communities struggled, my career became something much deeper for me. It went from being just a job to being a way to help people change their lives.

I quickly reached six-figure earnings, which felt like a major achievement at the time. But even with all that success, I still made a lot of mistakes with money. I leased expensive cars, rented luxury apartments, and took on commercial real estate all without a clear plan or anyone to guide me. These choices put me in debt over $100,000 and I had to move back in with my mom, downgrade my car, and rethink everything.

When I got married to Shannon, I told her we could rebuild our finances just like we planned our wedding on our own, using our own money, and making it happen. Over the next two years, we created a budget that helped us save money, pay off debt, and manage our expenses. Now, we’ve built up a six-figure savings and a solid retirement plan.

What I’ve learned is that with the right guidance and a willingness to listen and learn, anyone can turn their financial life around. That’s why I believe that if you have a coach who can meet with you regularly, you can achieve anything.

My mission is simple, I don’t want to see any family left behind. Too many people are struggling, and I want to do my part by helping one person at a time.

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

About Me:

Growing up as a first-generation Afghan-American, financial struggles were a constant reality for my family. After my parents separated when I was young, my older brother, Mo, had to step in as the head of our household at just 15, carrying the burden of supporting us. I witnessed firsthand how hard it was for my family to achieve financial freedom, and it sparked a determination in me to change that narrative. At 18, I entered the financial industry, initially following my brother’s path, but quickly found my own purpose in helping others navigate their money and build a secure future.

In the early years of my career in the financial industry, I quickly reached six-figure earnings, which felt like a major achievement at the time. But despite my success, I made several financial mistakes along the way. I leased expensive cars, lived in luxury apartments, and took on debt without a clear plan to manage it. These decisions seemed like a reflection of success, but they taught me a hard lesson. Achieving financial success requires more than just earning money it requires smart management and long term planning.

Over time, I realized that mentorship was key to avoiding those mistakes and building sustainable wealth. With the right guidance, I learned to prioritize financial discipline, set clear goals, and develop a strategy for managing both income and expenses. Today, I take a more thoughtful approach to money, focusing on building a secure financial future instead of chasing immediate gratification.

What I Do:

Today, I’m a financial coach and professional, specializing in helping small businesses, families and individuals take control of their finances, just like I had to do. My work revolves around coaching clients to build strong financial foundations. Whether that’s budgeting, saving, protecting their assets, or getting out of debt. I create personalized financial plans that are easy to follow, and I meet with my clients regularly to keep them on track. My main focus is on empowering families to make smarter financial decisions, so they can avoid the mistakes I made and create lasting wealth.

What Sets Me Apart:

What sets me apart from others in the industry is my personal experience. I’ve been in the trenches, I’ve made the mistakes, I’ve learned the hard way, and I’ve rebuilt my finances from the ground up. I’m not just a financial professional who educates. I’m someone who’s lived through financial struggles and come out stronger on the other side. I understand how overwhelming it can be to manage money, especially when life gets in the way, and that’s why I’m so passionate about helping others. I’m here to offer guidance that’s not just about numbers, but about creating a mindset and system that works for your life.

What I’m Most Proud Of:

I’m most proud of the fact that, despite my past mistakes, my wife Shannon and I managed to rebuild our finances from scratch. We went from being in significant debt to saving six figures and building a strong retirement plan without any outside help, just the two of us sticking to a budget and supporting each other. It wasn’t easy, but it showed me that with the right guidance and a disciplined approach, anything is possible.

What I Want Potential Clients to Know:

What I want potential clients to know is that my mission is simple: No family should be left behind. Too many people are struggling with money and don’t know where to start. I’m here to help, one person at a time. If you’re coachable and willing to commit to learning and growing, I can help you achieve the financial freedom and stability you’ve been dreaming of. Financial success isn’t just for the lucky few it’s for anyone who’s willing to do the work, and I’m here to guide them every step of the way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021, I found myself struggling with adjustments in my business. I was burnt out, tired, feeling lost, and questioning whether I should just give up. My mind wasn’t fully in it, and I lacked direction. Although I held a California Life and Health Insurance license, I had primarily focused on life insurance throughout my career.

Then, at Thanksgiving in 2021, my cousin, Yousuf Shah (who is like a brother to me), suggested I expand my services to include health insurance for his team and clients. At first, I wasn’t sure how to make it work or whether it would be successful. But looking back, that pivot turned out to be the best career move I’ve ever made.

Expanding into health insurance opened doors to incredible opportunities, including partnerships with Fortune 100 companies. I was able to help their employees with life insurance and savings strategies, which in turn led to new, valuable relationships that have significantly elevated both my career and my life.

This experience taught me an important lesson: the right people, combined with a willingness to listen and adapt, can completely transform your path. Yousuf’s advice, along with keeping an open mind, gave me the push I needed to turn a challenging period into one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Over the past three years, I’ve made significant improvements and adjustments to my brand. In the beginning, I had only a few mentors and a small circle of people who were similar to me. I felt stuck and unable to elevate to the next level. But everything changed when I moved to the San Fernando Valley after getting married. That’s when it hit me: I knew a few people here, but I had left behind the familiar environment of Orange County, where my life had been centered.

My wife, Shannon, opened her world to me, and I gained a loving new family and an incredible circle of friends. Some of her friends feel like sisters to me, and their partners like brothers. Through Shannon, I met my sister Annysa Cruz and my personal trainer, Anthony Cruz, who’s become like a little brother. These two have been an incredible support system. I’ve also had the privilege of working with Eric Miller and Joshua Lin, the owners of Uplifted Athletics, who’ve given me the opportunity to educate their team and community.

In addition, I’ve built strong business relationships, particularly with my long-term business partner, Karla Castillo. Through her, I’ve connected with Manuel and Martha Roque, as well as David, Karla, and Kristine Martinez. Both families run their own delivery service partnerships with Amazon and employ many people. I am deeply grateful for these individuals, who have helped me expand my vision and see what was once impossible.

Of course, I can’t forget the incredible support from my family. My older brother, Mo Shah, has been my guide from the very beginning of my career. My uncle, Abe Tukhi, has been both a father figure and a mentor in life. And my cousin, Yousuf Shah, has played a key role in helping me expand my services over the last few years, simply by sharing his ideas.

These individuals have helped me build a new reputation in my industry, and I am deeply grateful to them. I know that as life goes on, I’ll continue to meet new people who will inspire me to be better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nickshahfinancialpro
• Other: Currently, I’m only using Instagram, but I’d like to expand my social media presence. I have two offices one in Irvine and the other in Woodland Hills.