Meet Patti Handy

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patti Handy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patti below.

Hi Patti, thank you so much for joining us and opening up about the very personal topic of divorce. So many in the community are going through or have gone through divorce and we think hearing about how others dealt with the aftermath and managed to build a vibrant, successful life and career despite the trauma of divorce can be helpful to many who might be feeling a degree of hopelessness. So, maybe you can talk to us about how you overcame divorce?
One minute at a time! Seriously. I was overwhelmed and so scared of what lay ahead for me and my son, that I had to take the early days one minute at a time. I leaned on my family and friends. I asked for help when I needed it. When days got really rough, I remembered my “why” – my son. He’s the reason I got out of bed and got moving.
Eventually, I found the career that would allow me to work from home and have a flexible schedule, so I could be Mom full time. I got my bearings by doing things that brought me joy…spending time with my son, time with my sisters and fun classes. I took up painting (learned quickly that painting wasn’t a skill) and even took up martial arts. This really helped with my physical and mental strength, until I was thrown on the mat like a limp doll, then it was time to get out. As a single mom, I couldn’t afford to get hurt…financially, physically or mentally.
Over time, I gained my strength and resilience and eventually moved on to working with divorced women, helping them with their money. I even went on to write four books. There is life after divorce…a really good one!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a result of my divorce and my many years in the financial arena, I decided to put my experience and education towards something more impactful. After I left my role as a Financial Advisor, I went out on my own as a Financial Coach, working primarily with divorced, widowed and single women. I created an online course, Minding Her Money, that empowers women with money smarts. From mindset, to credit, to investing, and so much more, this course creates the financial confidence and peace of mind my clients desire. I also do 1:1 private coaching, as well as an intimate group coaching program, called The Minding Her Money Circle. With my many years as a Mortgage Advisor, prior to my time as a Financial Advisor, I also offer mortgage lending. I love that I can help clients with their financial house in various aspects.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are many qualities that are impactful, but if I had to pick three, they would be: 1) Never stop learning. I’m a lifelong learner and you should be too. Read books, listen to podcasts and find mentors who are smarter than you and ask a ton of questions.
2) Build resilience. Life is hard, which is the diving board we need to get stronger. With every challenge, therein lies an opportunity to grow and become wiser.
3) Trust your gut. We are wiser and far more intuitive than we realize. If something, or someone, feels off, take the time to pause and go deeper. My worst mistakes were when I didn’t listen to my gut and jumped too fast into something I shouldn’t have.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents were amazing, on so many levels. With five kids in tow, their plates were full! My parents taught me so many things, but one of the most impactful was respecting money. They taught me early on how to make my own money (enter candy stand in my neighborhood at 9 years old) and to save. While most of my friends were getting an allowance, I was trying to figure out how to afford the fancy shampoo I wanted to buy. I believe this foundation around money began my interest in investing, finances and managing money. This was invaluable when I was going through my divorce.

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