Michelle Gordon

Founder and CEO, Investably

In this interview, Michelle emphasized her firm's differentiation and her role as a guide with fiduciary responsibility. With over 16 years of financial experience, Michelle left corporate accolades to establish a boutique practice focusing on a holistic approach to financial planning. She highlighted the importance of incorporating liability planning and debt management, utilizing Sora's liability analyzer for insightful solutions. She praised Sora's seamless onboarding and visual deliverables, emphasizing practicality in her client-centric approach. Michelle shared details about her upcoming four-week master class, aiming to democratize financial knowledge with hands-on insights.

Full transcript below:

Siddhartha: Welcome to Sora Spotlights, where we highlight some of the incredible advisers who are using Sora and delivering tremendous value to their clients. As always, you can reach out to advisors highlighted in this interview directly if you're looking to drive growth in your own personal finances. We're joined today by Michelle Gordon, the founder and CEO of Investably. Welcome, Michelle. 

Michelle: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here.

Siddhartha: It's wonderful to have you on. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your firm, Investably. How did you get started?

Michelle: Yeah, absolutely. I have over 16 years of experience in the financial space, mostly working in Asset Management. A corporate St. Award winner, I left to start my own private practice, a boutique practice. I wanted to work with clients on a deeper level, addressing the message of people feeling unheard and unseen, wanting a more holistic approach. So, I started my practice to deliver exactly that.

Siddhartha: Wonderful. Tell me a little bit more about holistic and what that means to you. It feels like there's been a trend away from just managing assets. What was it about holistic planning and advice that attracted you?

Michelle: Well, I think it's really my concept. There's a great quote that I love, which is, "Money makes a terrible Master but a great servant." It aligns with me and the clients I work with. We understand that life's goal isn't just money; it's about moments, memories, and time with loved ones. Money is a tool. So, I work with clients to understand their goals, values, visions, and current position. From there, we align investments to match not just financial needs but also values, goals, and lifestyle.

Siddhartha: That's wonderful. When you think about differentiating your practice, is financial planning what you lead with, or are there other parts of your practice that you feel are differentiated?

Michelle: It's a couple of things. My firm is one of the very few in the country that's a Latina-owned investment advisory firm. Less than 1.4% of investment management firms are owned by a minority or a woman. Additionally, I have strong partnerships and institutions that fill in all aspects of my client needs, including custodians, business valuations, and employee retirement plans. I serve as the guide, walking clients through everything with fiduciary responsibility.

Siddhartha: That's great. Speaking of fiduciary responsibility, can you talk a little bit about the importance of incorporating liability planning and debt management into your practice?

Michelle: It's huge and fits into the holistic approach. Many individuals have various debts, like student loans, mortgages, or consumer loans. Effectively planning for wealth growth when a significant portion goes to debt doesn't make sense. I work with women, minorities, and those with high debt, addressing the wealth gap. We analyze debt using Sora's liability analyzer, finding ways to reduce it, which not only improves monthly cash flow but accelerates the wealth journey.

Siddhartha: That's wonderful. Michelle, in your experience working with Sora, are there specific aspects you love, like seamless onboarding, always-on monitoring, or the analysis?

Michelle: Absolutely. The client onboarding has been seamless, and from my perspective, it's about the conversation with the client and their understanding. The insight and visual deliverables provided by Sora enable insightful conversations for better decision-making. The technology has been instrumental in my practice, making practical, informed decisions for clients.

Siddhartha: That's great to hear. Last question, Michelle. You're kicking off a four-week master class on financial vitals. Can you tell us more about it, why you're doing it, and who it's for?

Michelle: Certainly. Most clients I work with have high incomes or substantial assets. However, I don't want to leave anyone behind, considering the lack of financial preparedness in the country. The master class focuses on financial vitals, offering practical, hands-on insights. Participants will use Sora's liability analyzer for personalized action plans. It's open to everyone, aiming to make financial knowledge and empowerment accessible.

Siddhartha: That sounds powerful. Thank you so much, Michelle, for joining the Sora Spotlight. It's been a pleasure to chat with you.

Michelle: Thank you. It's been my pleasure, and Sora has been critical for my practice so thank you.

Siddhartha: Thank you.