HALLOWELL — After reflecting on her own life experience of managing her family budget, paying off student loan debt, divorce, major career change and navigating retirement decisions and life insurance with her aging parents, Hallowell native Vaunalee Foster realized the need to close a gap and set out to help more people worry less about money.
After working in health care administration for the Department of Veteran Affairs for 10 years, Foster decided to reinvent herself by becoming a financial advisor with Edward Jones.
“It’s been quite a journey,” Foster reflected, on completing the education and licenses required to work in the industry. “I am honored to work for a firm that is dedicated to putting clients first, and I feel well equipped to help more people become informed about their finances and the specific strategies to reach their goals.” Foster graduated with her MBA from Husson University in Bangor in 2018 and holds state licenses as an investment advisor, broker and life and health insurance.
As a mom of three boys and an Army veteran turned financial advisor, Foster knows all too well the challenges women and families face around their financial security.
“With everything else we have going on — work, family, kids, health, self-care, etc. — something has to give. We are all pulled in so many directions we don’t always have time to make financial decisions a priority,” she said, sharingher outlook on building wealth as a holistic process that starts by truly understanding what is important to her clients.
Foster tailors her strategy sessions around the specific goals, needs and unique situations of each client, with the purpose of making sure her clients feel confident about their plan and strategy so they can have clarity and direction. She positions each goal with a customized strategy and defined action plan, using an established process to address risks and problems that could derail the strategy along the way.
“It’s been really eye opening to help my clients understand the importance of establishing goals and to provide education around investing as a mechanism to reach those goals, she said. “I think one of the misconceptions people have about working with a financial advisor is that you have to already be wealthy; that’s not true. My job is to help you build wealth.”
While Foster has clients of all backgrounds, she holds a deep connection with veterans and women going through life transitions such as divorce or career change. She also enjoys working with business owners and busy professionals facing the challenge of balancing their work life with their busy personal lives. Her goal is for more people to feel confident about their strategy to grow and protect their wealth so they can concentrate on what is important to them, enjoy life and live with less financial stress.
To reach Vaunalee, you can call 207-622-0991 or visit her website at www.edwardjones.com/vaunalee-foster
