Maricel Ramos. Founder. Good Financial Choice

We met Maricel Ramos at an Ecobabes networking event where we heard about her using her accounting skills for good. Troubled by a lack of financial literacy and an avoidance of the topic among Canadians- Maricel started Good Financial Choice. Intrigued by her passion for finance we learned more about her organization.

What does your job entail including what a typical day might be like? 

Being a Financial Consultant and advocate for financial literacy is not your average 9-5 job. Every day is a unique and varied experience. Aside from meeting with clients, I typically attend several different industry events during the week.

I conduct a series of workshops for students through the Chartered Professional Accountant’s (CPA’s) national financial literacy program. I find it very rewarding when children from grades 4 to 8 are engaged and jumping off their seats during the sessions. We also host corporate lunch and learn sessions for our adult audience. During the evenings, the fun continues. We mix things up by hosting fashion shows where we give valuable tips on how to dress chic on a budget. Variety has become a key quality of the job.

Can you briefly describe your career path and how you got your meaningful job? 

I used to be a Capital Accountant prior to pursuing a career in the financial services industry. A rewarding part of my job was my opportunity to share my accounting knowledge with non-finance individuals. I was always very passionate about preaching the power of good financial choices and strategic cash management in business. When I finished my CPA designation, I gave some serious thought towards how I can create meaningful change in the world. Climbing the corporate ladder no longer appealed to me. I wanted to go beyond number crunching and share my knowledge while inspiring people to take a proactive approach to their finances along the way.

What’s the coolest part about your job and what’s the biggest challenge?

Without question, the coolest part of my job is the fact that I’m getting through to people and are having people think more about their finances while taking meaningful action.

When I started, I knew there would be a challenge in accomplishing this because personal finance is such a taboo topic. The majority of Canadians don’t want to talk about their finances. When people can’t be open with themselves they find it hard to be open with others.

What advice would you give to a job seeker looking for a job in this sector?

Never underestimate the power of community outreach. It will give you the opportunity to share your passion and empower others. In return, it will help define and mould you into an expert in the field.  You have to be willing to go out, take chances, step outside of your comfort zone, all in the name of representing your passion. You will eventually find others that react positively and others who share your values. The reward that comes from doing this goes far beyond monetary value, and I believe is what makes a job meaningful.

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