From Personal Loss to Purposeful Guidance

On April 21, 2020, my life changed forever when my husband, Aaron, died suddenly, and I became a widow and solo parent of our two young kids.

The months that followed were a blur. My brain shut down to survive, yet the world kept moving. I was expected to function, make decisions, and keep going—all while carrying overwhelming despair.

Before Aaron died, I was a financial professional with more than a decade of experience, an active mom, and a loving wife—I was capable and grounded. When I lost him, all of that fell away. I felt untethered. I couldn’t grasp how my finances had changed, and even more, I no longer knew who I was or what I wanted my life to look like.

In the midst of profound widow fog, I reached out to other financial professionals in search of guidance. Instead, I found myself on video calls with strangers, answering deeply personal questions while being pushed toward products I didn’t need and decisions I wasn’t ready to make. It left me feeling overwhelmed and even more alone than before.

Even well-meaning friends and family didn’t know how to support me. I felt unrecognizable—to myself and to them. What I needed was space to breathe, empathy, and guidance that honored the deeper work I was facing: figuring out who I was becoming and what I wanted my life to be after such a profound loss.

As I healed and reimagined my life, I connected with other women navigating loss, divorce, career change, and other major transitions. While our stories were different, the need was the same—we weren’t just rebuilding finances; we were redefining ourselves and our futures. That realization led me to create Next Chapter Financial—a life-first, money-second approach to planning that supports women through major life changes with clarity and compassion.

My Story Continues...

The Before

Before the earthquake of loss, I lived a full life with my late husband, Aaron, and our two kids, Maddie and Austin. We spent as much time as possible outdoors in our home state of Colorado, rooted in family, nature, and togetherness.

Time for Healing

After losing Aaron, the kids and I needed to step away from regular life. We traveled for a year while the kids did world-schooling. Here we are at the pyramids in Egypt, one of the many remarkable places we visited as we processed our loss and reconnected in a new way.

My Next Chapter

I’m braver and more open to adventure than I once was. I seek out new challenges that keep me connected to the outdoors and to myself. Here I am backpacking in Alaska, with Denali peeking out behind me—one of many moments that continue to shape my story.