Speaker: Qui (Mimi) Tran, AVP, Appreciation Financial
Qui (Mimi) Tran: to do that. We're just applying it in a different field, um, and helping a different demographic.
Why do you believe teachers and coaches make some of the best financial agents? (60 seconds max)
Qui (Mimi) Tran: I feel like teachers and coaches make excellent financial agents because we know how to set an objective, you know, like, get to the goal, um, we know how to measure what that success looks like. And that's a lot of what we do as financial agents. Um, is that we teach our clients and provide them financial literacy to help them reach their money and savings goals. Um, we help them and their family. So much of this is about being resourceful and organized and knowing how to follow procedures, um, to get, you know, the clients, their results. And, um, as teachers, we already know how to do that. We're just applying it in a different field, um, and helping a different demographic.
Why did you personally decide to step into this role after teaching? (60 seconds max)
Qui (Mimi) Tran: So, I love teaching, but I was burned out and my body reacted by developing lupus, um, which is an autoimmune disease. I needed to step out of the classroom because I needed to tend to my health. Um, so, I decided to work with Appreciation Financial because I knew that You know, I could have the time to go to the doctor when I needed to and rest. So, one, I wanted to be brave and learn something new, um, because we do tell our kids to have a growth mindset. So we figured, you know, we should do the same. And two, I also gave myself the safety of knowing that if I did not end up liking this position, or that if I missed the classroom, Um, or that I felt like I was sufficiently rested, that I could go back. But the honest truth is that it's been 7 years since I've been with Appreciation Financial, and, um, after having some distance from the classroom, I realized that I like being on the side of supporting educators. Um, and I don't see myself going back to the classroom.
Why is helping other teachers with retirement especially meaningful to you? (60 seconds max)
Qui (Mimi) Tran: As a former teacher myself, I have so much respect for the work that teachers do. Um, it's forever the hardest job that I, I've done, and I know that it's the hardest job I will ever have done. Um, teachers, you know, we teach content, sure. But we tend to students' social-emotional need. We build their social esteem. We help them learn conflict management. There's so many roles, right? Like sometimes we're the nurse, sometimes we're the psychologist, sometimes like we're um just like trying to understand what each individual child needs, and it is hard work. Um, and teachers go into this job and it's so selfless, right? Like this entire career is about supporting others, um, and teaching kids and molding young minds. And teachers deserve support. So, I love working with teachers because I know that when I went in bright-eyed into education, I focused on supporting students and never really thought about, you know, my finances, and I, I know that like, this is something that now I know I can help teachers with, and it's something that's very meaningful to me.
Why does making your own schedule matter in your life now? (60 seconds max)
Qui (Mimi) Tran: Oh, why does making my own schedule matter in my life? Let me tell you, once you have control of your own schedule, you never really wanna go back. I've tasted the waters. Um, I can go to the doctor whenever I need to, like I said, but I love traveling and I can manage my schedule so that I can go and move to France for 4 months, or go to Vietnam for 4 months, or go on a road trip for a week because I decided at the last minute I wanted to join my friends. And I can work while I'm on the road, you know, as long as I'm scheduling for that. Um, and there's so much flexibility with how this job can be scheduled and, um, I love that. I get to live my life how I want. I get to work from home if I'm not feeling well, but I love meeting my teachers. So I go out and I, I see my teachers and I, I see my friends is what it feels like a lot of the times. But I can't do that if I'm stuck on a rigid schedule, you know, like I get to go at my own pace, and it's the best.
Why do you think other teachers or coaches should atleast explore this opportunity? (60 seconds max(
Qui (Mimi) Tran: Um, teachers and coaches have so many reasons to explore this opportunity. I'll list three. First, you all have your own pension in your retirement. Whether or not you know how it works, right? So, it's good to know for yourself and that way you can take it and, and teach others. Um, 2, there are no caps on how much you can make with Appreciation Financial, which means you're not tied to a salary schedule. So you can make so much more, um, as a financial agent, right? And 3. The third reason I'd say is the time freedom and the ability to work at your own pace, at your own schedule, and have the, the time to do what it is that you need when you want, right? You, you have control over your own schedule. Those are my top 3 reasons, um, and it never hurts to just try and learn something new.
