We had the good fortune of connecting with Myrna Lainé-Hyppolite and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Myrna, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
As a financial wellness coach and wealth strategist, I absolutely have a budget! However, many tend to think of a “budget” like a 4-letter word. It doesn’t have to be that way. I am a finance person who looks at spreadsheets all day long, I don’t want to manage my money using spreadsheets. If you are not into spreadsheets, you can use a very simple 50/30/20 method. 50% of your money goes towards your needs, 30% towards your wants and 20% towards the things that will make your future YOU better. The future YOU bucket involves investing, paying off your debt and putting money towards your retirement.

I view managing one’s finances as a form of self-care. If your money house is not in order, the rest of your house will not be in order. You should have a plan for your money that involves spending on things that bring you joy. Your life shouldn’t be just about paying bills. Plan for the things you want to do! Whether that be the trip to Costa Rica that you’ve always wanted to take or the dream house you’ve always wanted…Go for it!

You should also schedule money dates with yourself, a time where you can look at your accounts (outside of your bill pay cycle) and review them on a regular basis.

 

What should our readers know about your business?
Let me just tell you! I grew up in a Caribbean household (Haitian to be exact) and I was raised knowing the “trifecta of success” which meant ” you work hard, you go to college and then you get a good job!” Many of us are familiar with this trifecta. I did all of these things. I worked hard, I went to a good ivy-league college (got 2 degrees), and got a wonderful corporate job. However, I didn’t know anything about investing in the stock market or real estate. I didn’t know anything about how to save. I had to learn about this the hard way.

Throughout my 30-year finance career, I learned about investing. I used to be one of the analysts that poured over company financials to recommend stock investments to financial institutions. I was also a financial advisor for a period of time. The financial trajectory of my life could have been much different had I known what I know now much sooner in life.

I founded my company Empower Financial Wellness at the end of 2020, right during Covid! Why? I didn’t want women to take the long route to learning about managing their money. I had so many friends and family members who were women and were just not informed when it came to their money. They were in unions with partners who managed the money and they didn’t pay attention. I had many examples in front of me of women who saw the loves of their lives turn into their worst nemeses and they left 20-year unions with nothing to show for it.

Empower Financial Wellness was founded to educate, empower and encourage women to make the most of their money and fast track their money growth by investing in the stock market. Financial wellness is of critical importance for women especially. Financial wellness is about your overall financial well-being, do you have money set aside for an unexpected purchase? Do you have money to spend on the things that bring you joy? Do you have low stress when it comes to your money?

Financial wellness is important for women as we tend to earn less than our male counterparts AND also tend to outlive men. So if we earn less and live longer, it is of critical importance for us to maximize our money!

As a financial wellness coach and wealth strategist, I help powerhouse women executives turn their amazing income into their first million in net worth even if they are new to investing in the stock market and are not financial pros.

What sets me apart? My ability to take financial concepts like investing in the stock market, growing one’s net worth and budgeting and providing my clients with easy to implement ways to fast track their money growth. I get super excited when I see my clients succeed and become the money rock stars that I know they were always meant to be!

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It took a lot of work and persistence to get to where I am now! It was not easy as there was a lot of trial and error. You’re always learning. It all comes down to serving your clients in the best way you can and approaching your work from a service vantage point. I want all of my clients to be successful and I want them to grow their money and take advantage of all of the opportunities available to grow their wealth. A heart of service is important.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a hard question. There are so many different things to do in Atlanta and it all depends on your tastes and preferences! Are you into the party scene (not so much me at this point in my life) or do you just want to spend quality time with your friend. I’m all about the quality time and the food. I would definitely check out Kandi Burruss’ Blaze Steak and Seafood restaurant.

If you want to do something with more historic significance, checking out the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is good. The Georgia Aquarium also provides a wonderful “quality-time” experience.

For a week-long trip, there are so many options in the ATL!

 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely want to give a shoutout to my family: my husband Franck Hyppolite and my two children, Aryanna and Philippe. They have always been super supportive of all my initiatives and my career moves. As I have moved up the corporate ladder and decided to take the entrepreneurship leap, their support has meant everything. From filling in for me at basketball games to helping with caregiving for my elderly mom to holding down the fort when I take my business trips, they have been real troopers and absolutely deserve recognition when it comes to my success story. I love you all!

Website: www.empowerfinancialwellness.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/empowerfinancialwellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myrna-laine-hyppolite-3b611b2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myrna.lainehyppolite/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myrna_laine-hyppolite/streams

Other: Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/finance4women

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