Member Highlight: Michael Daniels, CFP®
Michael Daniels CFP® is a seasoned financial advisor at Financial Focus Group where he helps individuals manage their finances, and work toward financial independence. He is expanding his reach by creating personal finance videos on social media to share his expertise more broadly.
Inspired by his resilient mother, he values hard work and service to others. Michael loves working with new and diverse groups of people and is excited to connect, collaborate, and continue making a positive impact.
Read on to learn more about Michael!
Full Name:
Michael Daniels, CFP®
Nickname:
Mike
What do you do professionally?
I help people actively manage their household finances and discover their path to financial independence. Working with people on both a professional and personal level brings me a great amount of joy.
What do you want to do (professionally and/or personally)?
Professionally, I am in the early stages of expanding my reach by posting personal finance videos to social media, 2 to 3 times per month. People look to me for guidance on ways to build/manage wealth, plan for retirement from their day jobs and more. Video posts enable me to share valuable information beyond people that I engage with, directly. This collection of brief lessons on personal finance reveals various ways that people can pursue/enhance their financial independence.
LinkedIn posts can be found on www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvdaniels.
Do you have any passion projects or ideas you want to explore?
For years, I have been so focused on establishing and growing my business that I have not carved out time to enjoy life or to take significant time off. My latest passion project is to establish a new work/life balance that includes more enjoyment of life and less time working (not necessarily less work).
Who inspires you? Why?
My mother, Jerri, inspires me. No matter what obstacle stands in her way, she digs deep and overcomes it. She is also one of the most giving people that I know.
Mom grew up in rural North Carolina, the segregated South during the 1950’s. She was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. She then left the rural South and migrated to the North with dad (a major transition for her). Mom and dad launched careers in Education and together impacted the lives of many young people.
While I was in middle school, mom attended Seton Hall Law school (full-time) and later passed the bar exam (her second career pursuit). Despite schoolwork and exams, I don’t remember a single day that she wasn’t fully present with me.
In recent years, mom experienced the passings of her younger sister and my father (married 52 years). She experienced a tree falling on her house and totaling her SUV. I could go on and on about mom’s life experiences and how she overcomes with so much grace.
By example, mom has taught me how to be super resilient and hardworking while dedicating her life to the service of others.
Hobbies / Interests / Things that bring you joy:
Spending time with my wife, Brittany, family and friends brings me joy. A delicious meal or beverage and good company is officially my happy place.
I also play golf in a league on Tuesdays, at East Orange Golf Course in Short Hills.
Greatest accomplishments:
One of my greatest accomplishments is completing a semester abroad at La Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain (my junior year of college). It was my first time leaving the United States. I lived with a local family of 5 and completed a full course load as a biology student with classes entirely in Spanish. In one course, psychopharmacology, I was required to give an oral presentation on the effect of pharmaceutical drugs on behavior, in Spanish, to a classroom of native peers. I also took karate classes while I was in Seville and traveled, including a trip across the Straight of Gibraltar by ship from Spain to Morrocco. It was truly a life changing experience that opened my eyes to the world and what I am capable of accomplishing.
Future accomplishments:
I am dedicated to continuously refine my golf game and am on track to lower my handicap to single digits.
What excites you about being a Creative + Member?
I appreciate being part of such a thriving, vibrant, diverse community. There is so much for us to learn from and share with one another.
Best piece of advice you have ever been given:
“The way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” This advice has always resonated with me because every big goal (marathon running, industry credentials, establishing a business, etc.) has started with taking one step in the right direction.
Favorite quote:
I recently discovered this one and it resonated with me: "I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail." Muriel Strode
What does your best life look like?
Spending each day maximizing my potential to serve others with joy and peace.
Last words for the Creative + Community?
Let’s connect! I enjoy meeting new people, sharing experiences and resources.
Michael’s Socials
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