What On Earth Is Luz Doing With Her Money?
“Becoming less afraid to talk about money, which has had a significant impact on my “relationship” with it.”
Hi Luz!
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I come from a family of strong and resilient women, for which I consider myself very fortunate. I’m a big advocate of diversity and equality. I love dogs and wine -- not whine ;)
I work as a content marketing and social media strategist for various brands, and also run FRANK newsletter - and enjoy both very much.
What inspired you to launch FRANK newsletter?
I’ve always had a knack for connecting, so I frequently found myself making introductions and sharing information. I’m also pretty good at spotting gaps and trends and noticed one in particular that felt I could help bridge with thoughtful curation and community building. Peers and colleagues were always in need of a champion, a mentor, and guidance; but they were only looking for it in one place: professionals more senior than themselves. They were ignoring the amazing sources of expertise and support they already had in their networks. They were also comparing themselves to a very narrow idea of what success meant -- as if success could only look one way. So, I decided to combine all those things, and FRANK was born: a no-nonsense newsletter for professional women.
What did you learn from your previous jobs?
I’ve learned quite a bit and grown at each job I’ve ever had, which I love. The list of learnings is long and ever-expanding. On the hard skills front, I continue to always get better and better at Google Analytics, content and social media strategy, email marketing, to name a few. And on the soft skill front, learnings like time management, adaptability, prioritization, risk-assessment, developing a thicker skin, and just realizing that most people just want to do a good job. One of my personal favorites, however, is this: unless your feedback improves the output by more than 10%, save it - of course, this does not always apply, but it helps you check yourself when needed. Sometimes your feedback can do more damage than good.
What does financial independence mean to you?
Time and freedom. A couple of years ago I read this article where they called that freedom a "f*ck off fund," and you know what, I couldn’t agree more. Check it out.
What is the best financial decision you’ve made?
Becoming less afraid to talk about money, which has had a significant impact on my “relationship” with it. For example, it has empowered me to be a better salary negotiator. Something else that I think goes a long way is having your own bank account -- separate from your partner.
Luz at SheSays event in LA
Own up. Have you made any major financial faux-pas?
Not taking retirement planning seriously as soon as I got my first job. When I was in my early 20s the whole idea of retirement and saving for the future was not top of mind. Rest assured that has changed. Pro tip for younger gals: Starting just a few years earlier can make a big difference, even if you can’t save a lot at that stage of your life.
What are your biggest financial fears and concerns?
Getting the right information to ensure financial health. There is always something new out there, and you wonder how legitimate it is. Case in point: cryptocurrency.
What is Vestpod for you?
A tool for financial freedom. The economy fluctuates and having guidance on what to pay attention to is priceless.
Best book(s):
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
This Is How by Augusten Burroughs - I read it while I was dealing with grief and it honestly was not the most helpful book, but it made me laugh
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois - My favorite book as a kid
Favourite podcast(s): Hidden Brain
Thanks a lot!