I first met Traci at a Raymond James conference, and we instantly hit it off. At the time, we were both shifting from lawyering to the financial industry, raising kids about the same age, and working in the same part of the country. What started as lunch dates to brainstorm, problem solve, and support one another’s careers turned into “Hey, what if we made this official?”
Client coaching isn’t new to The Meakem Group. It’s something that’s been in their DNA since day one, but it’s especially exciting to join the team and enhance this focus to meet specific needs. As the head of our financial coaching program, I get to work with the team to help clients dive deeper into the day-to-day personal finance habits that impact their ability to achieve their life goals and priorities. We help clients create personalized saving, spending and debt reduction plans. It’s perfect for people who find themselves working with the Meakem Group team at those pivotal life moments: whether it’s balancing competing priorities, preparing for a transition to retirement, or even just deciding now is the time they want to change their approach to money in their daily lives. I’ve seen how this can improve people’s lives in measurable, significant ways, and I feel incredibly fortunate to lead this program.
I’ve always been interested in the why behind financial choices. I have a B.A. in Psychology from St. Bonaventure University and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, and I founded a financial advisory branch that I had the privilege of co-running from 2013 to 2018. After stepping away to help lead a non-profit, I’m thrilled to come back to the financial industry and help fill a need I’m passionate about.
On A Personal Note
Post-college, I spent a year working in a prevention program with school-aged girls in southwest Detroit, cementing it as one of my favorite places in the world. My other favorite place is on a boat, preferably filled with good friends, good music, and anchored in the middle of a lake (leave your problems on the shore!). My husband, Steve, and I love finding restful ways to unplug and spend meaningful time together, especially when our son Ben is home from college. We also share a 14-year-old tabby cat named Angel.
