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Valerie Sanchez is the partner and co-founder of Divine Asset Management, a women-owned and led financial services firm which provides the tools and resources to manifest one’s financial goals. With a specific focus on catering toward women, Divine Asset Management offers services in asset management, financial planning, retirement planning, insurance and financial education.
A proud Latina, mother, wife, and business owner, Valerie is grounded by her faith in God and loves serving people in whatever capacity she can. Her desire to serve and make an impact on the lives of others is what led her to manifest her own entrepreneurial dreams.
CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER
Her corporate career began in 1991 when she moved from the west-side of Chicago to the east coast after dropping out of community college. At the time she knew nothing about Wall Street but soon got started in a trading room. From there her love and desire to learn more about the business consumed her and passion for finances began to grow.
“I knew that if the men doing those jobs could do it, then I could too,” she says, reflecting back to those early years.
This mindset and her strong work-ethic motivated her to strive for success in her career. Growing up as the daughter of a single mother, Valerie was taught how to work hard and show up when needed.
“She got up every day, never complained, worked hard, and just did what she had to do,” says Valerie of her mother. “In my business I ‘show up’ literally and figuratively speaking, even on days when I don’t feel like it.”
With this “can do” mentality, Valerie soon worked her way up the corporate ladder, and eventually landed a fast-paced, high-paying director’s position at a brokerage firm which would be her home for the next eighteen years.
However, after many years in the corporate world, this job would eventually take a toll on her and interfere with her personal life.
“I worked really hard for many years to climb the corporate ladder, but I realized that there had been a cost to that,” says Valerie. “I traveled way too much, and I spent a lot of time away from my family. My relationships, home, and health took a backseat to my job and eventually they all suffered.”
Feeling like she no longer had control over her life, Valerie decided to walk away from her corporate job in 2011 so that she could focus on her personal life and family matters.
MANIFESTING THE DREAM
Her time away from the corporate world became a time of deep reflection and soul-searching. Valerie came to the conclusion that a typical corporate job was not the right fit for her anymore. Instead she wanted something that offered her more freedom, while also stuck to her passions of serving others and working in finances.
“I wanted something that mattered,” says Valerie. “I wanted to make a difference, not just a paycheck.”
Reconnecting with her now business partner, Danielle, the two began brainstorming
ideas for a business together that would meet their personal and professional desires. From their brainstorming they manifested the dream, a company that would focus on financial education catered toward women. Their manifestations lead to what is now their company, Divine Asset Management, along with WealthWise, their financial education program.
“We created the firm because we felt like Wall Street never spoke with women,” says Valerie. “It spoke ‘at’ them or not at all. It was a ‘don’t worry, honey, I got you’ message. We wanted to change that! We wanted to engage women in a different way.”
Divine Asset Management approaches money and finances in a way that is tailored toward women and their experiences with money and finances. Women engage differently with finances, desiring education and purpose. It’s about more than just getting returns on their money. Many women also want to know everything about something before embarking on a journey. With these concerns in mind, Valerie and Danielle strives to create a comfortable environment where women can feel confident as they grow in their financial education.
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MONEY-TALK
Valerie also engages with clients by sharing her own ups and downs so that they can avoid making the same mistakes she made along the way. Her mission is to be transparent and create a space where women can be transparent too and share their challenges and triumphs.
“We want to guide ALL women to become their best, most enlightened financial self,” she says. “We ALL deserve a seat at the table of wealth– no matter where we come from, our education, or socio-economic background.”
Valerie says one of her strengths is her ability to talk about money. This is something she believes is essential and that every person, especially women, must do. Growing up, it was something that was never talked about in her household. Finances were simply never discussed.
“It’s so taboo in a Latino home,” she says. “But this has become something that is super important for me in my own home with my children and in my business with everyone. We must understand our own Money Story and we must remove the stigma, shame, and fear that we carry around. If we don’t talk about it how will we ever know if we are on the right path?”
With her clients, the goal is to get them talking and remove that stigma, shame, and fear surrounding finances. Through education and resources one can begin to understand their “money story” and one’s relationship towards money and finances. This understanding is key toward change.
DEFINING SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS
When it comes to achieving success, Valerie already feels that she is successful. She clarifies that she does not mean that in a boastful or arrogant way, simply that she feels lucky to do what she loves and make a difference doing it. This to her is success.
“When we can do what we’re passionate about on a daily basis and make an impact in this world, even if it’s in a small way, then we already have everything we could want!” she says.
However this will not stop her from always striving to be a better version of herself and continue to learn every single day.
To others trying to find success in their own lives, Valerie advises to follow one’s passions.
“If you’re passionate about something and there is always a fire inside you about said thing–then you should go for it,” she says. “However, I don’t believe we should ever do something because we feel like once we have accomplished it then we will be happy. We can’t chase happiness.”
Additionally she advises to live one’s truth and be authentic.
“People want to work with people who aren’t perfect, people who aren’t afraid to share their story or their journey. They want to work with someone who can empathize with them and understand their plight. Just be real.”
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