We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terri Ho a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Terri, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
Growing up, I had the profound experience of witnessing my mother’s journey, which truly impacted both my life and career. Having escaped the turmoil of the Vietnam War, she made her way to the United States, seeking a better future for our family.
Through the lens of my mother’s traumatic divorce, I learned invaluable lessons about the significance of understanding household finances and the importance of saving for oneself in preparation for unforeseen circumstances. Her resilience and determination during that challenging time served as a constant reminder to never give up on one’s dreams and goals. Despite the divorce, she not only single-handedly raised us but also managed a successful business.
My mother’s unwavering strength and independence became a guiding force in my own life, shaping my journey towards becoming a resilient and self-sufficient individual. Today, I carry those lessons with me as I navigate through life.
Inspired by her remarkable story, I am driven to make a positive impact by helping and educating others about their finances, empowering them to gain financial confidence and control over their own lives.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As I previously mentioned, witnessing my mother’s traumatic divorce served as the catalyst for my career path as a financial consultant, specializing as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
The experience of witnessing the financial implications and intricacies of divorce firsthand motivated me to dedicate myself to helping individuals in similar circumstances. By combining my passion for finance with the desire to support others during challenging life transitions, I found my calling as a financial consultant with a focus on divorce-related matters.
Throughout my career as a financial consultant, I have had the privilege of assisting numerous women who required guidance with their finances during the divorce process. I quickly discovered that attorneys possess extensive knowledge of the law but often lack expertise in finance. This realization is concerning, since we are splitting money at the end of the day.
This experience shed light on the alarming lack of financial literacy that many individuals face. It served as a powerful motivation for me to further educate and empower individuals, particularly through my seminars, on the intricate aspects of divorce.
Divorce already brings about emotional challenges that can cloud one’s judgment in various areas. However, I firmly believe that maintaining clarity in financial matters should be a top priority. Post-divorce, rectifying financial mistakes can often lead to additional expenses that could have been avoided with proper understanding and planning.
By offering seminars and educational resources, I aim to empower individuals to navigate the complexities of divorce with confidence and ensure their long-term financial well-being. Once the divorce is finalized, I assist my clients by educating them on post-divorce finances, ensuring their settlement is wisely managed and sustains them in the long run.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When it comes to building my audience on social media, I took an authentic approach. As someone who is truly passionate about fashion, I decided to showcase my personal style as the foundation of my platform. By sharing my outfits, fashion tips, and trends, I was able to captivate an audience that shared my love for fashion.
However, I didn’t stop there. Recognizing the importance of financial literacy, I gradually incorporated educational content about finances into my social media presence. I saw this as an opportunity to broaden my audience’s knowledge and provide valuable insights on managing finances effectively.
By combining my genuine self-expression through fashion and my dedication to educating others about finances, I was able to attract a diverse and engaged audience. This approach allowed me to connect with individuals who were not only interested in fashion but also eager to learn more about personal finance.
My advice for anyone trying to build their social media presence is “JUST DO IT”, it doesn’t need to be perfect, that will come with time.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One important lesson I had to unlearn is becoming excessively emotionally invested in my clients to the extent that it affects my well-being. I’ve come to understand the significance of setting boundaries and recognizing that, ultimately, it is their life and their decisions that shape their path, even if I notice red flags along the way.
This mindset originates from my personal experience as a young girl who felt helpless and unable to assist my mother during her divorce. It took time and reflection to realize that my role as a professional is to provide guidance and support, while respecting my clients’ autonomy in making choices that align with their best interests.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.territho.com
- Instagram: @terri_ho
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terri.ho.31
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaoterriho/