Reflections on growth, change, and inspiration for your financial journey
As 2024 starts to wrap up, it’s a time for reflection, growth, and looking ahead. At 3rd Decade, we believe that meaningful progress is built on the lessons we learn and the insights we gain along the way. This year, our team asked ourselves a thought-provoking question: What is a meaningful lesson, insight, or change you’ve experienced in 2024 that could inspire others on their financial journey? The answers were as diverse as our team, each filled with wisdom and inspiration that we hope will resonate with you as you embark on or continue your financial journey.
Cristhian O. Giraldo – Bilingual Financial Mentor
“2024 has been a defining year for me and my family, underscoring the importance of emergency savings in the face of unexpected challenges. As a financial mentor, I’ve always leveraged my planning skills to build a strong safety net, integrating insurance products and emergency funds to support us through life’s surprises. From sudden home repairs to family emergencies and even the occasional spontaneous adventure, I felt prepared for most of what life might bring. Yet, this year has been a humbling reminder that, despite all my planning, life has a way of surprising us in ways we simply can’t fully predict.
As an immigrant family with loved ones spread across multiple countries and cities, we’ve felt the impact of this year’s unprecedented wave of events like wildfires, droughts, extreme heat, floods, hurricanes, war, and even electric and water rationing, all compounded by the loss of loved ones. Each event has touched us or members of our extended family in some way. With every update, I quickly realized that while a solid financial cushion can ease the strain, it cannot protect us from the emotional toll or fully shield us from the challenges of consecutive crises. Our preparedness provided stability by addressing basic needs, yet the repeated blows tested not only our financial safety net but also our resilience and mental well-being.
Reflecting on this, I’ve come to appreciate how essential it is to rebuild our safety net after each setback, as we don’t know how soon it will be tested again. Embracing the good that we can still do for ourselves and others along with having empathy for those who may feel similarly has been empowering, as has learning from these experiences to better prepare for the future. Rebuilding doesn’t just mean replenishing our savings, it’s about gaining new skills, redefining our plans and contingencies, and finding ways to turn lessons into actions. Just as importantly, sharing the knowledge we’ve acquired with others can help them prepare as well, fostering a network of resilience that strengthens everyone involved.
This journey has also deepened my appreciation for faith, gratitude, and the support of family, along with the invaluable support from work leaders in 3rd Decade. Their understanding and flexibility during these difficult times has reinforced the importance of having a compassionate workplace culture, which has provided additional stability and encouragement. These pillars of family, faith, and organizational support have grounded us as we face each new challenge, reminding us of the importance of financial foresight but also of leaning into emotional strength. As we look to the future, I feel hopeful and grateful, trusting in our ability to rebuild, to strengthen, and to approach future hardships with renewed wisdom.”
Elizabeth Miller – Program Associate
“Something that I really learned this year is that taking the first step with a lot of these financial decisions really is the hardest part – and that self-compassion goes a long way. There is a lot of fear and anxiety when it comes to getting your finances in order, at least there was for me, and I had been stuck in a loop of wanting to make changes but not feeling ready to commit. This year ended up being a “snowball” of positive financial decisions and I am so happy to be able to reflect and see that.
I had a really long to-do list after I completed the 3rd Decade coursework. I knew I wanted to start but didn’t know where. I realized that the first step for my personal journey was to accept where I was at and to let go of some financial shame I was harboring. The guilt wasn’t improving my situation or helping my confidence in my ability to improve my situation. The first thing I started with was negotiating a lower car insurance rate for myself. That first win of lowering my rate was so empowering that it made me excited to check something else off my financial to-do list. That excitement led to me opening a high-yield savings account and setting up recurring contributions, to confidently rolling over an old retirement account, to starting my Roth IRA, and to setting up automatic transfers.
I also want to acknowledge that I was lucky enough to have the resources available to help me make these changes and to have people I could ask for help. Now, I want to be that person for others in my community. I am truly grateful for my first year on staff at 3rd Decade and can’t wait to see how much I grow in the next year, both personally and professionally!”
Jeaneese Ayandokon – Mentor & Volunteer Coordinator
“Each financial journey is unique, and there is no wrong starting point. Many people may feel like they’re falling behind their peers or like they’re not where they should be, but success isn’t about hitting milestones early or finishing them quickly. It’s about building confidence and learning along the way. Embrace your path, with its own unique challenges and achievements. Each step that you take is progress, no matter when you started.”
Joe’Mar Hooper – CEO
“This year, we took the time to review our programming data to ensure that our program remains as equitable as possible to the diverse participant base we serve. Through this process, we uncovered some truths about our work that excited us about the path we have taken and made us think about our path forward. Overall, we found that our program is serving BIPOC communities at an ever-growing pace. We are also doing a great job in ensuring our program is providing equitable results to those diverse participants, as they are graduating and achieving at rates similar to their white counterparts.
What really excited me though, was that our African-American and Latino participants are seeing significant growth in their net worth during their time in our program. We know that historically, there have been significant wealth gaps for BIPOC communities in our country, and to see how 3rd Decade is ensuring that BIPOC households in our program are closing the wealth gap has been a great revelation and motivation to continue to recruit a more diverse base of participants into our life-changing program in 2025 and beyond!”
Nikita Wolff – Senior Manager of Programs & Curriculum
“Reflecting on 2024, I’ve come to realize a few things…
Saving for life’s big moments not only makes them more attainable but also so much more enjoyable. This year, I spent three incredible weeks in Europe, able to fully immerse myself in each experience without a hint of financial stress because I had prepared for it in advance.
Just two months after that trip, I learned that I was expecting twins. Because I had already started saving to start a family, the financial shock of twins felt much less overwhelming than it otherwise would have.
There is tremendous value in having a vision for what’s ahead, but I’ve also learned that even the best-laid plans can shift unexpectedly. Having a financial safety net and a well-executed plan is crucial and can soften the blow when things don’t go as expected.
While I’ve had some high “highs” this year, I’ve also had some of my lowest “lows”. A quote that has stuck with me throughout this year and carried me through some of my hardest days is “The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom”. I don’t know if it’s just me, but acceptance can be incredibly hard, and this quote reminds me that resilience and acceptance often reveal more possibilities than certainty ever could.”
2024 has been a year of growth, both as individuals and as a team dedicated to empowering others. The lessons we’ve learned reflect the heart of 3rd Decade’s mission: that financial success is built on education, reflection, and the courage to embrace change. As we prepare for 2025, we invite you to take these insights into the new year, fueling your own journey toward financial empowerment. Together, we can continue making meaningful progress and creating brighter financial futures.
