Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria Garcia Cisneros
Gloria , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born in a border town in Mexico 28 years ago, I had no idea my path would be anything but straightforward. My family made the difficult decision to move to the U.S. when I was just a toddler, and I quickly learned that life in a new country came with challenges—starting with being undocumented for much of my childhood. My grandparents, who raised me, instilled in me the values of hard work, sacrifice, and resilience—values that became my foundation.
I grew up in southeast San Diego in a low-income household, with multiple families living under one roof—something that’s a common part of the immigrant experience. We didn’t have much, but we had each other, and that meant everything. As a first-generation Latina, I watched my family work tirelessly to build a better life—my grandmother caring for children and my grandfather playing constant mariachi gigs. Education became my only “job,” and I was determined to make the most of it. I checked off all the boxes that were supposed to lead to success—the American dream: high school diploma, college degree, corporate job.
But when I entered the corporate world, I realized I had the work ethic, humility, and empathy from my family, but I lacked something crucial: the proper toolkit for success. After graduating from UCLA, I learned that succeeding in this country requires more than just hard work. It meant navigating a system that wasn’t designed for people like me. There were many moments when I felt like I didn’t belong, especially as I moved through school and later, corporate America. But I learned to turn those moments into fuel. I focused on building my intellectual capital, knowing that would be my way to unlock new opportunities.
In my first years working in accounting, I quickly realized that success required more than just showing up and working hard. I had focused on what was in my control—education—but I hadn’t accounted for the social and financial capital that so many around me seemed to have. During that first job out of college, I came face-to-face with something I had overlooked—basic personal finance skills. I didn’t know about credit, budgeting, or 401(k)s. That realization sparked my journey into personal finance.
As I learned about money, investing, and financial planning, I found a new calling. I pursued my CFP, realizing that this was where I could not only empower myself but also help others like me—people who didn’t have access to the financial tools they needed to succeed. I came to understand that my journey wasn’t just about learning financial concepts—it was about building wealth, creating opportunities where none existed, and passing that knowledge on to my community.
Fast forward seven years to today: I’m a Certified Financial Planner working with some of the wealthiest families. But I didn’t get here by following the traditional route. I’ve faced imposter syndrome, and there were moments I questioned whether I could truly succeed in a field that once seemed so out of reach.
This process of growth has been about more than just acquiring knowledge. It’s been a process of assimilation—one that later led me to shed the layers of who I thought I needed to be and instead embrace my identity. In my later 20s, I learned to celebrate my heritage and recognize the strength in my experiences as an immigrant. I’m proud to be a first-gen Latina creating space in the finance world and showing others that they don’t have to wait until they feel “qualified” to take control of their financial future or take up space.
My experience as a first-generation immigrant has given me a unique perspective that drives everything I do. I’m not just here to teach financial strategies—I’m here to show that no matter where you come from, you have the agency to create your rich life.
This journey has had its highs and lows, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step has shaped who I am today—a Latina on a mission to empower others. Through my work, I aim to normalize Latino wealth, increase representation in the financial industry, and make financial literacy accessible to all.
I wanted to change the narrative—not just for myself, but for others like me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I was raised by my mom and grandparents after my parents separated due to a difficult and unsafe home environment, shaped by my father’s struggles with substance abuse and harmful behavior before. We came to the U.S., where my mother and grandparents raised me until I was seven—at which point my mom was deported. I made the difficult decision to remain in the U.S., holding on to the hope of a better future. I spent the first 17 years of my life undocumented in San Diego, which brought significant geographic and emotional challenges. The pressures and high stakes of success weighed on me from a young age.
Another struggle I didn’t fully recognize until I left my hometown was the lack of financial means and professional networks I had. This reality hit me when I arrived at UCLA for undergrad. For the first time, I felt truly different—a minority in a way I had never experienced before. In Southeast San Diego, the way I lived and looked was common. But stepping into higher education in an extremely affluent neighborhood in Los Angeles as a math major, I faced a stark new reality and realized for better or for worse that there was a whole world out there I had no exposure to or knew how to navigate. It was a lonely path—one that required me to trust my instincts and carve my way without a guide.
That experience has continued into my career as a financial advisor. There are approximately 300,000 financial advisors in the U.S., but only 100,000 hold the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation. Of those, only 3% are Latino, 24% are women, and just 6% are under 30. I continue to feel like I’m stumbling as gracefully as possible, navigating corporate America while staying true to my roots.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work goes beyond numbers—I guide clients through the complexities of wealth, ensuring they make informed decisions that align with their goals, values, and legacies.
What sets me apart is my culturally relevant approach to financial planning and my ability to make complex financial topics accessible. I don’t come from wealth, and I didn’t grow up with a financial playbook. I had to learn everything from scratch—and that gives me a level of relatability that many in this industry don’t have. My clients appreciate that I can break down financial concepts in a way that feels approachable, not intimidating.
Beyond my work with clients, I’m passionate about closing the wealth gap and empowering first-generation professionals—especially Latinas and young women of color—to take control of their financial futures. I create content, speak at conferences, and lead financial literacy workshops that center on the realities of communities that have historically been left out of financial conversations.
I’m most proud of the impact I’ve been able to make in this space—not just as an advisor, but as a voice for those who don’t always see themselves represented in finance. Whether it’s being featured in major publications like Fortune, Nasdaq, and Business Insider, speaking on stages, or mentoring recent grads, I know that my presence in this industry is opening doors for others.
There aren’t many Latinas in wealth management, let alone bilingual first-gen immigrants who have lived the financial struggles they now help others navigate. That perspective is my superpower, and I use it every day to challenge the status quo, make financial education more inclusive, and help others build the financial confidence they deserve.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I used to say I was lucky and downplayed a lot of my wins. I will say that finding a pathway to citizenship was a blessing, but beyond that, I’m a firm believer that luck is where preparation meets opportunity—you create it for yourself. You can’t force opportunities, but you can put in the work, show up consistently, surround yourself with the right people, and push yourself to be in spaces that open doors. And even when there aren’t doors being opened for you, you can’t start creating them for yourself, or find a back door.
Looking back, I see that what some might call “bad luck”—the challenges and struggles — made me stronger, more resilient, and more empathetic. And when “good luck” has come my way, I’ve learned to fully embrace those moments, recognizing that they didn’t just happen out of nowhere—they were built on years of unseen effort, persistence, and self-belief.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: migloriaco
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloria-s-garcia/
