When it comes to finding financial advisors, a specific group of individuals look for advisors who can truly relate to them. First-generation Americans often have to overcome cultural and economic challenges that many individuals can’t relate to, which makes it difficult to find advisors. 

Some of the different challenges among this group are:

1. Making decisions around how much family support to provide.
2. Getting undocumented parents health insurance.
3. Being the first in their family with money.
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To write this article, we sought the perspective of Anna N’Jie-Konte. She is a mother, a Certified Financial Planner™ and the founder of Dare to Dream Financial Planning, as well as a proud Puerto Rican, Gambian-American.

According to Anna, first-generation Americans are “seeking someone that either has similar lived experiences or will validate their lived experiences. Someone who won’t put them down for their specific experiences."

Anna described that the industry can be dismissive or degrading, which is why first-generation Americans are interested in finding advisors that can relate to them. 

How can financial advisors relate to clients?

1. Be willing to share your lived experiences, your mistakes, and your struggles.
2. Share your stories and don’t hide them.
3. Connect on an emotional level.

As financial advisors, we need to truly connect with our clients on an emotional level and understand our clients unique situations, especially for first-generation Americans. Being flexible and creative in your planning is crucial. 

To further emphasize that first-generation Americans seek advisors with similar experiences as their own, a client of an advisor shared this unfortunate story. This client was a successful software engineer who had been sending money back home to his parents. When he went to meet with his advisor, he was given advice that shocked him to his core. His advisor said, “we’d be better off putting the $400 you send back home into an investment account so it can compound overtime.”

What did this individual do? He left his advisor.

If you’re a first-generation American looking for an advisor, be sure to ask about their lived experiences. Ask advisors if they can be flexible in their financial planning to accommodate your own goals, whether it’s sending money back home or something else. 
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Financial Advisors for 1st Generation Americans

If you’re looking for a financial advisor who understand your unique situation as a first-generation American, browse the AdvisorFinder marketplace here.