How much can happen in 6 years
This month we’re celebrating Mana’s 6th birthday. Since 2018, we’ve worked with incredible people and learned so much about building wealth and, most importantly, what it means to live a good life. This year, we want to celebrate our 6th birthday by celebrating the most important people: our clients.
When we launched Mana, we knew we wanted to connect money with what’s most important in life, but we had no idea just how big of an impact that work could have. We can never promise a result when a client comes to work with us. We understand that every client is unique, and their circumstances will differ. However, our commitment to our clients is that we will learn about their history, we will listen to their concerns and their dreams, we will dive deep into their financial data, and we will provide financial care to them as we do for our own families. The beauty is that with time, we’ve seen how this work can result in material financial savings, and have a flywheel effect - creating an impact not only for our clients, but for those in their families and networks. We wanted to share just a few client stories to highlight some of our proudest moments:
An experienced institutional investor sought our help to manage his personal investments, expressing shame around not being a good investor in the public markets. During our analysis, we noticed a discrepancy between what he described and his tax returns - there were no loss carry-forwards reported. Upon inquiry, we discovered these losses had been overlooked. Working with a CPA, we revised his returns to include these losses. Two years later, when our client experienced a liquidity event, these previously unreported losses significantly offset the gains. The tax savings were so substantial that they covered the cost of all four years of private high school for all four of his children.
“The tax savings were so substantial that they covered the cost of all four years of private high school for all four of his children.”
Another couple we’ve worked with, two successful tech professionals in the Bay Area dreamed of moving to Southern California, but thought it was impossible. By painting a vivid picture of their potential future - strolling back from a family day at the beach - we ignited their imagination. Our clients later told us that the vision we set for them - along with our planning - was a combination so powerful that it motivated them to realize their dream. We collaborated and crunched numbers: they sold their house, shifted their careers to enable them to move, invested in a property that could be used as a rental until renovations were ready, and we strategically divested their concentrated stock positions across public and private markets. They’re now expecting their third baby, their house is under renovation, and most importantly, they’re getting to savor those family beach moments they dreamed about.
“They’re now expecting their third baby, their house is under renovation, and most importantly, they’re getting to savor those family beach moments they dreamed about.”
Another client was the CEO of a healthcare company offering primary care and pharmacy services to the LGBTQ community. The business needed support as the COVID crisis began. Through Mana’s network, we connected him to a leading SBA lender, securing him enough funding that ensured his staff of over 50 people would remain employed while they continued to provide much needed support. Despite the challenges of COVID, the company maintained its competitive edge, enabling the CEO to sell the business two years later to a large healthcare organization aligned with the mission. He’s now living his dream as a real estate investor and owner of a vineyard in Argentina.
“He’s now living his dream as a real estate investor and owner of a vineyard in Argentina.”
Our client was a high-powered partner at a law firm, creating tremendous impact for her clients, but secretly wanted to provide pro-bono counsel for individuals who couldn’t afford it. She was a tremendous saver and had invested throughout her career, yet she felt like she could never retire, or even take a step back. We spent two years addressing her fears through the planning process while simultaneously working on re-writing limiting money beliefs she held. Today, she’s on year two of traveling in South America, dancing every moment she gets, and exploring what kind of impact she wants to make in the future. We’re so proud to celebrate her for living the best version of her life.
“Today, she’s on year two of traveling in South America, dancing every moment she gets, and exploring what kind of impact she wants to make in the future.”
At the start of every annual update meeting, we ask our clients to name the three essential elements they need in their lives to feel truly happy. We’ve learned that family, time, and freedom are elements that so many of us need to live a life filled with meaning and happiness.
After the annual update meeting, our clients identify how they feel, and these feelings have provided us with so much fodder to reflect upon. The feelings that arise after our collaboration inspire us to keep showing up day after day; we thought we’d highlight the essence of what we’ve heard over the past year.
There’s excitement for where our clients are and where they’re headed, financially and life-wise.
Even during a period of job disruption, there's a strong feeling of security around their financial health.
Many of our clients leave our conversations feeling motivated, confident they’re headed in the direction they want to be headed and some clients have expressed that they used that motivation to achieve their goals faster than they might have otherwise.
Importantly, we’ve heard from many of our clients that our work together provides a feeling of abundance. Some have felt relief in realizing there is enough.
Six years of Mana means we’ve had the privilege of celebrating so many tremendous life milestones. Weddings, graduations, new homes, new babies, retirement, and everything in between. This past year two of our clients realized their dream of taking significant time off of working their corporate jobs…to just be.
As we reflect on these six years, we're filled with gratitude for the trust our clients have placed in us and the incredible journeys we've been privileged to witness. Each story represents not just financial growth, but personal transformation and the realization of deeply held dreams. From career shifts to retirement plans, from family expansions to lifestyle changes, our clients have shown courage, resilience, and a commitment to living their best lives. Your successes are our inspiration, and they remind us daily of why we do this work. As we look to the future, we're excited to continue supporting you in turning your financial goals into life-changing realities. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your stories – here's to many more years of growth, achievement, and living life on your own terms.
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Stephanie Bucko and Cristina Livadary are fee-only financial planners based in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie is the Chief Investment Officer and Cristina is the Chief Executive Officer at Mana Financial Life Design (FLD). Mana FLD provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to help clients grow and protect their wealth throughout life’s journey. Mana FLD specializes in advising ambitious professionals who seek financial knowledge and want to implement creative budgeting, savings, proactive planning and powerful investment strategies. As fee-only fiduciaries and independent financial advisors, Stephanie and Cristina never receive commission of any kind. Stephanie and Cristina are legally bound by their certifications to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.