About Me
I'm Finance Gal®, and I'm beyond excited to have you join me on this personal finance journey. Since launching my platform in January 2021, I've been overwhelmed by the support from this amazing community.
I hope the information I share is as valuable to you as it has been to me on my financial journey. Feel free to reach out with any questions via email, Instagram, or through my website.
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I experienced firsthand the impacts of a severe recession that deeply affected my family. This economic downturn resulted in my family going bankrupt just as I was applying to colleges in the U.S. They broke the news to me that they couldn’t support me financially. Furthermore, as an international student, I wasn’t eligible for financial aid or student loans. At just 18 years old, I found myself in a dire situation. I spent nights crying and questioning why this was happening to me. However, I eventually realized that sufferring wouldn’t change anything. The only way out was to take ownership of my situation and figure out the money stuff on my own.
So, I set out on an intense budget, maximizing the utility of every dollar. I made sure that any money I had in the bank was earning interest, and I applied for every single scholarship I could find. Eventually, my hard work paid off, and I received a full-tuition merit scholarship to the University of Southern California. I still remember the mix of relief and elation I felt when I read that acceptance letter. It felt like a monumental achievement – a validation that my efforts weren’t in vain.
But that was just the beginning. The scholarship covered tuition, but I still had to fund my room & board, activities, and trips. I continued to grind, study, and work to make ends meet. Throughout college, I juggled as many as five jobs at a time and graduated with the highest honors, earning a B.S. in Economics/Mathematics and an M.S. in Finance (all while doubling my net worth!).
Now, living in NYC and working on Wall Street, I'm excited to share my knowledge and experiences to ensure no one feels they're navigating their financial journey alone. I 2x'd my income since I started working and share tips on how you can do the same. My goal is to hit $1 million by the time I’m 35. Let’s get rich together!