About Me
Money Strategist
I am a former Big 4 Management Consultant turned Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
whose sole objective is to co-create a world in which women are thriving. Where they are not only thriving but they are wealthy, valued, and respected for all of who they are.
Getting to this world doesn’t require a balancing act.
It requires a new approach.
In order to compete globally and create security for generations to come, we need wealthy women.
How do we do this? How do we create real wealth-generating opportunities for women?
We use a new method for growing wealth that focuses on sustainability. Sustainable meaning respecting and appreciating how interconnected the systems in which we live are and viewing wealth creation as a lifelong relationship with money instead of focusing on a single factor such as the number in a bank account.
After experiencing a thriving career and many medical surprises, my life journey has led me to realize that the only thing that matters are relationships – the one we have with ourselves, ones we have with others (including a Higher Power) and the many we have with the systems (Government, education, employment, environment, etc.) that touch our lives.
You can read more about my life journey at My Story.
In this relationship-focused framework, understanding our own needs and advocating for them creates personal security, peace and ultimately sustainable prosperity. It is why I developed the Sustainable Wealth Method and decided to become a Board Certified Patient Advocate because I know firsthand the value of having vulnerable needs met.
Leveraging my own experience in management consulting, my Master’s degree and my own experiences personally advocating for myself, my family and my friends
I hope to empower women to advocate for themselves and grow Sustainable Wealth because the world needs healthy, wealthy, thriving women.
Curious about how The Sustainable Wealth Method may apply to your life? Check out the story of Jane and Matilda’s lives in Sustainable Wealth in Action.
The Resource Center is here to support you as you learn, explore and discover your path to cultivating real, resilient, enduring wealth. Here you will find tools, resources, and guides designed to empower you on your journey and uplift you when life challenges your resilience.
Additionally, I seek to create a community of wealthy women who are striving to not only grow sustainable wealth for themselves but also to improve their communities. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you on your journey so drop me a note and let’s start a conversation.
Outside of growing my own Sustainable Wealth, I love getting outside and into nature with my three boys and husband, reading non-fiction, fostering dogs or doing a Peloton workout.
And for those with inquiring minds, I’m a ENTJ, Scorpio, Enneagram 8w9, Human Design 5/1 Heretic Investigator Generator who loves to increase comfort through personal empowerment.
Who Are Board Certified Patient Advocates?
Patient Advocates can assist in a number of different ways, however, most have specific areas of competency and specialization. For instance, I specialize in assisting women and children with healthcare navigation and general advocacy.
This includes: providing resources and guides to educate and inform; discussing a strategy to have health and financial needs met; answering insurance questions; researching care options; summarizing an action plan and formulating questions for healthcare providers, and many more.
Other advocates specialize in senior care or cancer diagnoses. Here is a listing of all of the competencies required by a Board Certified Patient Advocate.
You might see Advocates listed by many different names – Patient Advocate, Healthcare Advocate, Health Advocate, etc. but only those listed as a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) are certified.
Many Advocates hold other certifications such as an Medical Doctorate (MD) or another licensed healthcare designation (nurse, nurse practitioner, etc.) While these designations may provide these advocates with additional skills and resources, they are not necessary to have as a Patient Advocate as a Patient Advocate never provides any kind of medical care.
The Patient Advocate Certification Board is the certifying body for Patient Advocates. Certification is not required to serve as a Patient Advocate but those who are certified must comply with the Ethical and Continuing Education standards set forth by the Board. Learn more at PACB.
Generally coaches are seen as people who take your goal (get healthy, lose weight, increase performance, grow your money, etc.), develop a plan for you and hold you accountable while you implement it.
Coaches specialize in a particular area – health, financial, career, general life coaching.
Coaching can be an extremely effective tool at helping you meet your goals and overcome challenges.
What happens though when you don’t know what you need? When you don’t have a goal?
As an Advocate, I help you explore your whole situation and find the right next step for you.
That next step could be coaching, it may be an appointment with medical health professional, it could be some books or a course. It may just be a pep talk and validating that you got this!
Overall, I differ from a coach in that I serve as part Guide, part Librarian for your life – exploring all of your options, providing you with information and resources, discussing benefits and risks so that you can make an informed choice about your next step.
Board Certified Patient Advocates have a very specific scope that is outlined in their Code of Responsibility:
“The role of an advocate is to provide guidance and assistance to their clients in decisions related to their health needs. Advocates are committed to helping clients and client communities make informed choices and access resources, but at no time make decisions about specific treatment choices, provide clinical opinions, or perform medical care of any type, even if they possess clinical credentials.”
As a Board Certified Patient Advocate, I cannot give you a plan to follow as I do not make recommendations or give advice.
What I do is help you make your own plan.
As an Advocate, I can:
- Ask questions that bring clarity
- Provide information, tools, resources and guidance to answer your questions and build your capabilities
- Point out areas of concern that may not align with your values, priorities or goals
- Organize your thoughts and structure your plan so that it’s easier to follow and you have the confidence to take action
- Honor whatever decisions you make along the way
I fundamentally respect and value your autonomy – your right to live your life as you see fit and I provide you with the tools you need to live your best life, as you define it.
There are several Codes of Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards that govern professional advocates. Recently, the Patient Advocacy Certification Board, the NAHAC and Health Advocate X came together to harmonize the ethical requirements. As a member of PACB, I am required to abide by their ethical codes.
There are many different organizations that support the new and emerging field of Patient Advocacy. The PACB is the only organization that certifies Patient Advocates. The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC) also supports advocates along with The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA). Health Advocate X also provides support to professional health care advocates.
In terms of Patient-focused resources, The Patient Advocate Foundation, The National Patient Advocate Foundation, and The Patient Safety Movement Foundation all provide more information on how to get more out of the healthcare system.
Work With Me
Working with an Advocate means connecting with a partner for your journey. We may walk just a stretch together before you can navigate the rest on your own, or we can spend more time navigating an unknown territory.
Think of me as your Guide – someone who shares information, resources, and expertise with you but respects your right to make decisions. As an Advocate, I am someone who meets you right where you are and we walk down YOUR path together.
Interested in learning more about Advocacy and how it may support you on your journey toward growing Sustainable Wealth?
Not Ready to Connect?
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