CFP financial planning coursework guided my financial and tax matters outlook right from the beginning. Yes, I complete accurate and honest tax returns that result in the lowest tax possible for my clients. But the process is much more. While catching up on their year, I am listening carefully for the opportunities that evolve along with life’s changes, or for clues that I might not have picked up on (or they did not share) previously. I know that some of my clients rarely experience the kind of engaged exchange they have at my desk. Not only am I better able to understand their tax and financial situation, but I am also able to connect in a way that constantly reminds me of our shared humanity, regardless of diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Years ago, as a young broker, I developed a very successful “Investments 101” presentation. Facilitating that brought me in contact with people from all walks of life. I learned to find common ground on which understanding and trust could be built. And I learned to listen. In my years of teaching personal income tax classes and training preparers, I have passed that experience on to my students, combining the learning of essential skills and facts with sensitive understanding of the complexity of our clients’ lives and how different those lives might be from our own. This is one of those touchpoints with ‘community’ that is so important to me.

Others often comment about my photography that I “see things”. I think they mean that I show them something familiar in a way that causes them to think about it in a different light. Product photography proofs sometimes result in a client seeing their own work in a new way, prompting discussion as to what is important to show in the product photography, in advertising, and marketing collateral, which in turn has an impact on business decisions regarding marketplace and niche. Also rewarding are the times my photographs have influenced others, including other artists, to explore an area or topic they had not previously considered interesting or beautiful enough. I have not yet experienced a place or topic that wasn’t interesting enough to study visually. When I look through a lens, it separates me from my biases in a way that makes room for insight. In addition to family and community, that insight is pretty much what I live for.

While studying the concepts and complexities of financial planning, I decided that financial education is best as a bottoms up, rather than top down endeavour. No better place to start than with children. And I felt that if I could get some of the key concepts across to elementary and middle school kids,  that I should be able to do the same for their parents. Bringing bank savings back into elementary schools in partnership with local banks allowed me to show children what money can, and just as importantly, cannot do. There are young people starting out in their careers today who tell me my simple message of ‘save some, spend some, and give some away’ has stuck with them and formed the basis of their personal budgets and financial awareness. That’s a good start.

Other volunteer work for organizations and interests with which I have been involved includes marketing in a variety of forms. Logos, brochures, contracts, newsletters and other publications promoted the organizations, provided clear messages to keep customers and members informed, and were a platform for voices and artwork to be heard and seen. Coordinating group workshops, seminars, and trips to explore various special interest topics were all rewarding experiences I might not have had without my volunteer work.

Music is a form of communication that I am strongly drawn to, but does not come easily to me. Even with early training in reading music and playing several instruments, including voice, I am still challenged to make music. I have come happily to a place where I appreciate that the struggle is as rewarding and valuable as the music. Perhaps it +is+ the music. Participation as a fifer with CT Valley Field Music continues to provide me with challenges, some within reach and some that seem almost unattainable. I love that, and am grateful that they allow me to work on the effort in their company.