I’ve always been interested in figuring out how to use money to support the life you want to live, knowing that everyone’s version of that life looks different. I learned so much about investing from The Motley Fool, and that knowledge helped me feel more comfortable making good investing decisions for myself.

So when I heard David Gardner talk about starting a Foundation to help more people get on a path toward financial freedom, I immediately thought, Yep, I want to be part of that. Getting the chance to help build the Freedometer has been especially satisfying because I know how valuable it was for me to learn about investing early, and I think everyone should have that opportunity.

My first job as a teenager was working as a cashier for a local coffee roaster. It was a great way to meet people in my community, and to get really good at making change, since almost everyone still paid in cash!

My dad was always interested in investing and would spend time each week reading the paper and tracking stocks he was following. He taught me to notice the companies that were part of my everyday life and to believe in the power of saving and investing a little over time. He also showed me that you don’t need a lot of money when you have a lot of time. His approach was simple: invest for the long term and leave it alone. It worked well for him, and it’s worked for me too. I’m grateful I learned those lessons early in life.