I’ve spent my career working with Latino families to build wealth. And since October is Estate Planning Awareness month, I encourage us all to examine how we can work on turning that spending power into intergenerational wealth through estate planning and how to avoid common pitfalls.

There’s a saying in Spanish, “Si Dios quiere,” or God willing. The idea that we are not responsible for making things happen—and that they’ll only happen of God wants them to—is fatalism. And it’s prevalent in our community. I remind my clients all the time that while God makes the fish, God makes the nets, God does not put the fish in the nets. And October, which is Estate Planning Awareness month, is a great time to remind you how to put the fish in the nets when it comes to planning your legacy.

When I sit down with families, business owners, and community leaders, I always remind them that managing money isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about the heart behind it all. That’s why I developed the 3M’s of Financial Greatness: Mindset, Meaning, and Money.

When I first entered the financial planning industry in 1986, many people would tell me: “When I have money, I’ll come see you.” But here’s the truth — waiting until you feel financially secure to seek guidance is like waiting until you’re healthy to go see a doctor. It doesn’t make sense. Our community deserves better than advice tied to products or sales. We deserve guidance that honors our values — our families, our faith, and our culture.

When you intimidate a community—in this case the Latino community—you weaken their financial future. That’s why I fight for financial empowerment because no court, no law, and no system should hold us back from creating prosperity for our families.