Prior to co-founding Sophia Financial Group
in 2009, Tracy Theemes gained valuable international experience with
Smith Barney, a US brokerage firm. Tracy’s has a Masters degree in
Counselling Psychology. She is a Certified Financial Planner, is insurance licensed and is a
Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. She is also a Financial
Divorce Specialist. Before becoming a financial advisor Tracy spent 10
years in management with an international play equipment company. She
founded, then sold, a specialty children’s furnishing company based in
the US. Tracy, along with a panel of Financial Experts will be hosting the Sophia Wealth Academy on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. They are donating 100% of all proceeds to Dress for Success Vancouver.
How did Sophia Wealth Academy come to life?
I
was working as a financial advisor in the US and it dawned on me that
women wanted to become financially
empowered but they had limited time. They hungered for high quality,
relevant financial education. They wanted a concise overview of what
they needed to know about money, in language they could relate to, about
the issues that they were grappling with. When
I came to Canada I found an amazing group of like minded professionals
who agreed that there was a real appetite for this in Vancouver. So
Wealth Academy was born. Most of the faculty have been involved from the
very beginning. They are a committed, talented,
generous group of smart! We started at a community centre and we were
the only program they had for two years that made a profit for them.
That’s when we realized we could turn this not just an educational
opportunity but help women by raising money for a
charitable women’s organization as well.
Why did you decide to make the event for only women?
There
are three primary reasons that we have created a women only event. The
first is that there are issues
that face women that are distinct from men: motherhood, interrupted
careers, longer life expectantcies, demanding multi-dimensional lives and
a way of thinking about money that is not commonly addressed in the
financial world. Secondly, we are strapped for
time. We want things done well, executed efficiently and we simply
don’t have time to mess around. “Give it to me in a day” they say and we
will learn what we need and get the job done. Third, when men are
present and money is discussed they can often end
up dominating the conversation. This common dynamic is avoided when
only women are in a room. They ask the questions that live in them and
they are listened to without interruption.
What do you see as the biggest mistake women make with their finances?
Worrying about money and their financial lives without doing what is necessary to solve the issues. Every
money problem is solvable. Every woman had the potential to be financially secure.
You've decided to donate all proceeds to Dress for Success Vancouver. What made you choose them as a charity?
I love Deb Twocock and I love the mission. It is a match mad e in heaven. Financial empowerment is the
root of self-sufficiency. Together our two missions lift and inspire women at all stages of their life journey.
What do you think women will get out of attending the event?
We
have two main goals: every attendee will know what their next step is,
how to take the next step and
who they need to help them. And they will leave feeling confident,
inspired and nourished. It is a magical day. (It’s my favourite day of
the year!). Lives are changed, businesses get started, and a whole bunch
of “snap, crackle, pop” resounds.
There are still tickets available to the Sophia Wealth Academy. Get your tickets NOW and learn about everything you need to know about your finances!
