Meet your Money Mentor
Hello and welcome! I’m Dylan and I’m thrilled that you’re here to explore the exciting journey towards financial empowerment!
I’d like to first introduce you to my world. I’m very fortunate to be married to my high school sweetheart and father to a beautiful baby girl who we welcomed into our family just this year. Of course, I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention my first born (fur) child, Archibald “Archie”, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel! Our family currently resides in Rochester, Minnesota where I continue to work as a pharmacist. We moved here from our home state of Michigan in 2019 so I could pursue residency training in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership at Mayo Clinic after completing my PharmD. While I still continue to work full-time as a pharmacist, I feel called to share my passion for financial literacy and help other professionals break the cycle of bad financial habits and fulfill their financial goals.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish”
I started on my financial freedom journey in 2015 right as I was about to start pharmacy school. I was in a position where my first year of pharmacy school was already paid for and I was settled in at my parent’s house for the year. Much to my surprise, the financial aid office was still offering me ~$30,000 in student loans. I was so excited to take them up on this offer and had accepted that financial “aid” with gleeful plans to go and buy my first new car, a black Dodge Charger! I was so excited to start pharmacy school in a brand new car, eager to impress a bunch of people who didn’t even know me, let alone care what I drive.
This was a critical moment for me in my financial journey because I was young, naïve, and financially illiterate. I consider myself very fortunate to have come into contact with someone who would introduce me to Dave Ramsey and the world of personal finance. Through our conversations, the traditional thoughts I had on ways of managing money were challenged… You know the traditional way of living with a mortgage, carrying a car note, and buying stuff you don’t need on credit with money you don’t have.
It was not long after this introduction to personal finance before I became completely consumed with trying to learn as much as I could, as fast as I could to prepare for our financial future. As an aspiring young professional, there were so many goals that came to mind, it hardly felt possible. How could I, the 21-year-old first generation college graduate entering into a 4-year professional doctorate program also buy an engagement ring that my girlfriend deserved, subsequently plan a wedding, buy a house, pay off student loans, pay off consumer debt, save for retirement, and even think about starting family?
I had the vision for what I wanted my financial future to look like. What I needed was a plan… and some discipline (easier said than done!). I immediately set up a plan centered around limiting any further debt as I made my way through school, and carefully budgeting my expenses. It was an amazing feeling that for the first time, I had a sense of where my money was going. I was in control of my life. Fortunately for me, my enthusiastic interest in personal finance did not scare off my [soon to be] wife. So once we married, we combined our finances and re-affirmed our shared financial goals.
In November 2019, just 6 months after completing my PharmD, we achieved our first major financial goal and became completed DEBT FREE. No credit card debt, no car loans, no student loans, no money owed…to anyone. Since that time we have continued to follow a plan that helps to guide us towards a future of financial peace. It is by following this plan that we have been able to buy our first home, begin aggressively investing into retirement and best of all, grow our family with a sense of peace and security.
The sense of comfort and freedom that comes with living an intentional and secure financial life is the greatest gift you can give to yourself. It’s that gift that I aim to deliver to each of my clients. Throughout my ongoing journey to financial freedom, I’ve had the unique opportunity to share what I’ve learned, and empower those around me to be intentional with their money and take control of their financial future.
Whether I’m delivering my semi-annual “Finally…Financial Literacy” presentations to student pharmacists and residents, or engaging in one-on-one client meetings, I see hope in their eyes when they realize they too can break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck and create a plan for a brighter financial future. If you’re tired of having more month left at the end of the money, know that it doesn’t have to be this way.
Together, we can create a plan that positions you to live an intentional and fulfilling life.
