What is an underlying question that gives form to your work or interest in this field?
What vibrant individual and social well-being could emerge
if we give our hearts to truthful, authentic conversation?
What is your personal experience of collective
wisdom in groups?
In 2 areas: as a Certified Financial Planner ® with
my own practice, I have an integral approach to working with clients
and their money issues. We are concerned with the interior money issues,
beliefs, innocence and pain that impact a client's ability to use their
financial resources in a way that brings balance, joy and possibility
to their lives, their families and communities. My role is as much guide,
facilitator and coach. I have led group workshops that incorporated
circle process, group sharing, cafe and meditation practice to help
individuals find vigor and meaning.
I am also president-elect (2003) of the 28,000 member
organization, the Financial Planning Association. We are working with
new more civil and expansive modes of governance, i.e., meeting in the
circle, incorporating global café process, encouraging dialogue
versus reliance on parliamentary procedure.
We have worked with Meg Wheatley, Juanita Brown, Arian
Ward and Christina Baldwin, as we follow this path of trusting in the
conversation and the wisdom of the group. I’ve walked in the fire!!!!
What is it about the work in this field that excites
you and connects you to your own deepest self?
At the edges of my understanding: the intersecting point
of ego-self, unbounded still SELF and the shape and life of the human
community – I struggle maybe with faith, with my own weaknesses
and find myself relying on the power of intention and the conversations
themselves to transform all three and I’m impatient. The metaphor
that strikes me at this moment: myself a spoke on the wheel, holding
my place, my being connected at the center of the wheel, holding form,
holding center, still but critical to the wheel’s ability to MOVE,
to accomplish something physically – movement forward. I am excited
finally by bringing this integral process to the work of money integrity
and well-being.
Please provide a brief storyline or snapshot of
what brought you to this work.
My life has evolved through conversations. From the age
of 14 at a church camp where we gathered in the sacred circle, to my
experience as a participant in a three-day charity walk, my client work
(financial coaching and planning) with couples and groups to my experience
helping a large non-profit organization explore new ways of being together
to make wise decisions - and finally to my experience as part of a group
known as the Pioneers: 9 individuals: 8 are financial planners and one
is our wise facilitator and friend: we meet in the circle.
Three times a year to explore: just our being together
and asking the right questions has led to transformation for all of
us and surprises and synchronicity. It is the most powerful group experience
of my life. I am on a Community Task Force, working with Leaders in
this field (Arian Ward of WorkCommunity, Meg Wheatley, Christina Baldwin)
- exploring how groups self-organize, how to create the garden where
Community, trust and possibility can emerge. I am continuously surprised
and occasionally terrified. I have dealt with the resistance of those
who are threatened by what they perceive as lack of structure, rules
and too much trust in process. I am continuously looking to integrate
the process into my work.
How would you like to be available to others in
this field?
I would like to draw on the wisdom in my role as president
of the Financial Planning Association – this group has the heart’s
core dream to connect with the public at a much deeper level regarding
the role of money in their personal and social lives. I would like to
engage in that dialogue. I would like to be available to support and
talk with others. My contribution is my experience in client work and
association (community) work and my own struggle to bring more authenticity
and truth to my own journey. I believe we have to keep engaging each
other on what matters. We can’t each go deep on every issue, every
thread. I am a speaker, facilitator, connector and I am looking for
the consilience.
Links to this site or others:
Financial
Vision Advisors, Inc.
The Financial Planning
Association
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