Hi, I’m Melissa!
I’m the Founder of The Bright Side Coaching.
Money is a touchy topic, but it’s one I’m passionate about. I believe that financial education can be truly life changing.
As the daughter of accountants, I learned how to save and manage money at an early age, but I didn’t become passionate about personal finance until much later. After going to grad school to get an M.S. in Business, I racked up student loans and was eager to pay them off quickly.
In just two years, I paid off nearly $52,000 of student loans – while living in a high cost of living city and making under six figures. With some careful planning, I was able to enjoy life while paying off debt; during that time, I traveled to India for a friend’s wedding, went to Europe for a week, and visited friends and family in various states.
Shortly afterwards, I kicked my investing into high gear, maxing out retirement accounts and increasing contributions to my brokerage accounts — allowing me to hit a $100,000 net worth by the time I turned 29.
After years of working in the advertising industry, I took a job at one of the biggest banks in the country and further refined my financial knowledge. During that time, I got married and miraculously underspent my wedding budget, thanks to some compromises and a lot of DIY projects. After our wedding, my husband and I set an ambitious goal and saved aggressively for a downpayment — which allowed us to buy our first home after just one year of saving.
All to say — I’ve realized that no one cares about your finances as much as you, and that setting goals for yourself with a clear plan to reach them can truly change your life for the better.