Meet Jacqueline “Jax” Crider

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jacqueline “Jax” Crider. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jacqueline “Jax” below.

Hi Jacqueline “Jax” , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Honestly? I didn’t wake up one morning with a clear vision and a lightning bolt moment. I found my purpose the hard way—by trying to live everyone else’s version of success and realizing it was slowly crushing me.

For years, I played by the rules. I followed the financial advice, chased the “safe” paths, tried to check the boxes that family, society, and even the industry I worked in said I should. And on the outside, I looked successful. But inside, I felt stuck, unfulfilled, and like I was constantly letting myself down.

Then life hit hard. I opened my mortgage company right as the world shut down in 2020. I went through a miscarriage. My daughter was born over 8 weeks early and spent 47 days in the NICU. In the middle of all that, two employees quit with little notice. I was juggling grief, fear, motherhood, and running a brand-new business in one of the most unstable markets we’d seen. It was brutal.

But here’s the thing—those moments stripped everything down to the core. I didn’t have the energy to pretend anymore. I had to figure out what really mattered, what actually worked, and how to build something that was aligned with who I am, not who I was told to be.

That’s when my purpose became clear. I realized my gift wasn’t just mortgages or money—it was helping people find alignment. Helping them drown out the noise, trust themselves again, and make choices that feel like theirs. Because I know what it’s like to look successful on the outside but feel like a failure on the inside. And I never want another woman to feel like she has to keep living that way.

My purpose found me in the middle of the mess—and that’s why it’s so real to me.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At my core, I help people untangle the mess that money—and all the pressure around it—creates in their lives. I run two businesses that look different on the outside, but both come back to the same mission: helping people stop living by someone else’s script and finally find alignment with their own.

With PBJ Mortgage, I simplify one of the most overwhelming financial decisions most people will ever make—buying a home. Mortgages can feel like a maze of paperwork, jargon, and red tape, and honestly, too many professionals in the industry just let clients “pick what they think they want” without asking the deeper questions. We do it differently. We slow down, challenge assumptions, and make sure the loan fits the person—not just the numbers on the application.

With Financial Mastery Simplified, I take that same philosophy and apply it to money as a whole. Most people I work with have done everything “right”—they budget, they save, they follow the gurus—but they still feel stuck. They feel like failures even though on paper they’re doing fine. I get it, because I’ve lived it. That’s why I created the Financial Instinct Framework and the Financial Reset Blueprint—tools that give people permission to trust themselves, reset their money mindset, and finally build a financial life that feels like theirs.

What’s most exciting right now? We’re in the middle of expanding both brands. PBJ Mortgage is growing into new states and reaching more families with creative financing options that banks often overlook. And Financial Mastery Simplified is rolling out new programs, including live coaching, courses, and even expanding the podcast to bring these conversations to an even bigger audience.

At the end of the day, I don’t want people to just buy a house or just hit a financial goal. I want them to feel confident, empowered, and aligned with every decision they make. Because I know what it’s like to look successful on the outside and feel like a mess on the inside—and I refuse to let my clients stay in that place.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Resilience.
If I had to name one quality that carried me through, it’s resilience. There were so many moments I wanted to quit—after personal losses, business setbacks, or those nights in the NICU when I was exhausted and didn’t know how I was going to hold it all together. But I didn’t quit. Resilience isn’t about being fearless or unshakable—it’s about showing up one more time when everything in you wants to walk away. My advice? Start building your resilience muscle early. When challenges hit (and they will), remind yourself: this moment doesn’t define you unless you stop moving forward.

2. Belief in Something Bigger.
I’ve always believed that I’m part of something bigger—whether that’s my belief in God, the mission I’ve been called to, or simply the responsibility I feel to help others. That belief kept me grounded when everything around me was shaking. It reminded me that what I was building wasn’t just for me—it was for the people I serve, my family, my community. For anyone just starting out, anchor yourself to something larger than your own ambition. Success without meaning won’t carry you very far, but purpose will keep you going when nothing else does.

3. Education & Growth.
I am, and always will be, a student. Books, courses, mentors, personal development—those are what shaped me into the leader I am today. I didn’t just want to make money; I wanted to understand it, master it, and then help others do the same. Education gave me tools, but more importantly, it gave me perspective. For those early in their journey, commit to being a lifelong learner. Don’t just chase knowledge for the sake of it—use it to evolve, to shift your perspective, and to stretch into who you’re becoming.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely. I believe growth and impact don’t happen in isolation—they happen in community. I’m always looking to collaborate with people and organizations who share the same heartbeat: those who believe in alignment, intentionality, and empowering others to create life on their own terms.

That could mean:

Professionals in real estate and finance who care more about people than just numbers and want to help clients make choices that truly fit their lives.

Coaches, educators, and thought leaders who are passionate about mindset, personal growth, and helping people break free from the “rules” that keep them stuck.

Mission-driven brands and organizations that value authenticity, education, and empowerment over cookie-cutter formulas.

Collaboration for me isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about creating ripple effects. If what I’m building resonates with you, if you’re driven by impact and not just metrics, then you’re the kind of person I’d love to work with.

The easiest way to connect is to reach out by visiting: https://urals.co/jax-crider It has all the points of contacts whether that’s booking a call, visiting my website, or finding me on social media. Speaking of social media: I’m also super active on social platforms, and my inbox is always open for genuine, mission-aligned connections.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about business—it’s about building movements that change how people live, work, and thrive.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Bold social and Orange Beach Family Photography

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