Valerie Rivera, CFP®

Flat Fee Financial Planning & Investment Management for FirstGen Wealth Builders

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FirstGen Wealth Valerie Rivera, CFP®
Chicago, IL

Serving Clients Nationwide

Flat Fee Financial Planning & Investment Management for FirstGen Wealth Builders

Areas of Focus

  • Equity Compensation Options
  • LGBTQ Couples
  • Owning a Business
  • Retiring Early (F.I.R.E)
  • Taxes
  • Travel
  • Women & Wealth

About Valerie Rivera, CFP®

Hi, I'm Valerie Rivera and I am a First in my family. The First to go to college. The First to break barriers at work. The First to make more money than my parents ever did.

Are you a First? I offer no shame, no judgment financial planning for the Firsts in their family to build wealth. Let’s get confident about your money and leave the world a better place.

✅ My Background and Mission:

I entered financial services in 2008 at ShoreBank, a community development bank. The past 10 years have been primarily at large wealth management firms, including AllianceBernstein, Merrill Lynch, and TIAA, serving clients with $5-$10 million of net worth. Throughout my tenure, I’ve learned despite how much money we have, we all want the same basic things in life: to be happy, healthy and to spend time with the people we love.

What I noticed throughout my career was that generally no one looked like me, both on the advisor side AND the client side. Although money is a critical part of our livelihood, we don’t learn about this stuff in school and quality advice is only provided to those who have already achieved financial success.

I have a strong social justice bone. I believe the system is designed to widen the wealth gap. We place the blame on the individual and not the corporations or government that support financial exclusion.

Part of my mission is to break this cycle. To guide all the Firsts and act as a catalyst to feel secure about your own financial success. To create generational wealth. I have a huge focus on providing education and meeting people where they are in life for no shame, no judgement financial planning that will transform your life.

Professional Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®

Affiliations

  • CFP Board
  • Fee Only Network
  • Financial Planning Association
  • Flat Fee Advisors
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
  • XY Planning Network

Primary Location

2813 South Eleanor Street Chicago, IL 60608

Video

https://abc7chicago.com/post/valerie-rivera-first-gen-wealth-shares-tips-paying-down-debt-investing/15950836/

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • Flat Fee
  • One-time Financial Plan
  • Package Offers
  • Subscription

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a free consultation so we can get to know each other. We’ll discuss your life, your questions, and what your ideal advisor relationship looks like. We’ll share our process and how we can help you. At the end of this session, there won’t be a hard sell. In fact, there won’t be any sell at all. This is too big of a financial decision to make on the spot.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About FirstGen Wealth

No shame, no judgment financial planning for the Firsts in their family to build wealth.

✅ FirstGen Wealth is a virtual, fee-only financial life planning practice founded by a FirstGen wealth builder. Let’s start changing your relationship with money from complicated to confident.

✅ We are a fiduciary, which means we are legally and ethically bound to act in your best interests. Also, it’s just the right thing to do. We don’t receive any commissions or sell you any products.

✅ We do our best work for early to mid-career individuals and families who are the First to grow wealth in their world.

Do you want a collaborative financial guide and sounding board as you build your most abundant life? Then, you belong here. Join the wealth building revolution and change the trajectory of your life and generations to come. For all the Firsts. From a First.

Education

DePaul University, Certificate in Financial Planning | Northeastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts, Economics

Volunteer Experience

Org: Working Credit https://www.workingcredit.org/ Role: Board Member and Finance Committee Member Timeframe: June 2024-Present Mission: Working Credit is a not-for-profit organization that helps people in any financial situation overcome the obstacles to good credit and reap the benefits that come with it. Build Credit. Build Power. Org: La Casa Norte lacasanorte.org Role: Board Member and Co-Chair of the Next Generation Board Timeframe: May 2011-April 2019 Mission: Proudly served as a board member to La Casa Norte, a nonprofit organization working to serve youth and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing access to stable housing and delivering comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities. As Co-Chair of the Next Generation Board until 2017, I led the effort of a group of young, dedicated professionals from all backgrounds seeking service opportunities, leadership development, and an environment to gain invaluable board experience.

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Hobbies and Interests

  • Dancing
  • Entertaining
  • Family
  • Movies
  • Reading
  • Relaxing
  • Tequila
  • Theater
  • Traveling
  • Volunteering
  • Wine
  • Working Out
  • Yoga

Who We Serve

  • BIPOC
  • Business Owners
  • Corporate Executives
  • Couples
  • DIY Investors
  • Dual Income Family
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE)
  • Foreign-Born Individuals
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • Gen Z
  • Hispanic | Latino
  • Immigrants
  • Intergenerational Families
  • LGBTQ
  • LGBTQ Couples
  • Newly Engaged / Newlywed
  • Non-Traditional Clients
  • Parents
  • Physicians
  • Single Women
  • Technology Professionals
  • Therapists
  • Travel Lovers
  • Women in Transition
  • Women Professionals
  • Women’s Finance
  • Young Families

Wealthtender® is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.