Today we’d like to introduce you to Janis R. Dickey, PhD.
Hi Janis R., so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Southern California. My parents were a typical family where the father worked and the mother stayed home with the children. My father was a Real Estate Broker and sold starter residential homes, making just enough money for food, shelter, and basic needs. For instance, we didn’t have furniture in the living room, we had one black and white TV, and one car (mom hitched a ride weekly to the grocery store with a neighbor). So, at an early age I recognized that if I needed or wanted something, it was apparent that I would have to make a way to acquire it. For example, at age 16, I made an appointment with a local orthodontist and negotiated a payment plan for me so I could get braces.
Without any monetary support from my family, when I graduated High School at age 17, I set out to make my way in the world. So, I left home with a high school diploma and $200. I did have a job and a place to live. This scenario was the beginning of my self-education in finances and negotiation. I was a quick study, and before long I had been promoted at my workplace, and the new position opened doors for me. I changed companies, and over the next 8 1/2 years I was promoted 4 times at my new Fortune 500 company. One of the promotions required that I move to New York City, where I didn’t know a person. What an adventure. During this journey I studied at night to get my college degree. It took me 29 years, but I did get my PhD.
Along the way, at age 21, I had saved enough money to buy my first real estate property. I was desperate for ‘multiple’ streams of income. I kept that first property 2 years, flipped it, bought another property, flipped it… and so on. I am currently living in my 19th property. Along the way I was a Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Appraiser, and later I held my Mortgage Loan Originator license. Real Estate was my hobby and avocation.
When I was studying for my PhD, I taught at a major KC University as an Adjunct Professor for 4 years. This was a great experience, and it gave me a wonderful perspective on students and their learning modalities. Of course, I was hoping to get a permanent job when I graduated, but that was not in the cards. The University was not hiring. At that time, I was a single mom with two middle school boys, so I changed course and applied my talents in the financial sector.
I ordered the Series 7 General Securities Representative book off the internet, studied at my kitchen table, and took the test. The rest is history! I have had several Financial licenses over the years, and still today am a Financial Representative, Home/Auto/Business Insurance Agent, and hold a Real Estate Salesperson license as well, With over 25+ years in Financial Services, and 15 years in Corporate business positions, along with my personal and client experiences, I now share my knowledge with others.
Using this foundation, I have published a financial textbook, Financial Prep 101: Simple Tips for the Next Generation, and have a Middle School version in production. I also created an on-line course that tracks with the book.
Presently, I am contacting churches and non-profit organizations to introduce these resources, and to donate the on-line course. I am passionate about helping individuals of all ages to learn some of the basic concepts they may require as they navigate their financial life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Never a smooth road, but, my faith carries me through every storm. I guess many would say that not having a financial support system, or mentor, would be top on the list for bumps along the way. When one has NO ONE but themselves to provide perspective and counsel, it can be very scary.
However, I have been told repeatedly that I am one of the most positive people they have ever met. I believe that if you truly trust in the Lord, work hard, and ‘Treat people as you would like to be treated.’ the world is a brighter place. Persistence is the key. Too many of us are ready to give up. Our society is too quick to throw away relationships and change course when the time gets tough. I believe when I faced hard times, I stayed the course and persevered.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Asking me what I am most proud of is a difficult question. I am, by nature, not a boastful person. But, I will offer that I feel my greatest accomplishment is that of being a teacher and a mentor to my family, friends, colleagues, and clients. I absolutely love helping others succeed in life, or in helping them to achieve a personal goal.
I have many times offered that, ‘If a picture paints a thousand words, then stories gives those words color’. Sharing personal finance success and failure stories, are, by way of examples, a wonderful way to provide guidance, without judgement. I recount my experiences with clients and others is an engaging way to provide scenarios which teach information without confrontation.
In a nutshell, I believe that my ‘work’ is more of an ‘opportunity’; an opportunity to help and serve others.
I am a good listener, but boy can I talk! I listen to what people say, I ask questions, and I endeavor to get to know, through conversation, what my audience is passionate about. I listen to discover their goals and assess where they are in the progression towards those goals. I definitely ask the ‘hard’ questions to uncover where I see opportunities for them to make positive changes. So, ‘asking the hard questions’ may be one of the traits I am ‘known for’.
How do you think about luck?
No bad luck. I don’t believe in ‘bad luck’. For instance, if the University would have been hiring at the time I graduated from college… if I had become a teacher, I might not have become a Financial Advisor. If I would have had the resources and support from others, then I might not have been forced to look for multiple streams of income and buy my first property at age 21, or move to New York, or go to school at night.
In retrospect, if I look back on each path I found myself on. I think if the ‘bad luck’ circumstances were different, I would not have had the experiences I need to be doing what I do now. For instance, I probably would not have the experiences I required to write my financial literacy book.
Make lemonade out of all lemons.
Pricing:
- I will offer my on-line course FREE with a promo code that I will create for your readers
- the pricing for my book is fluid – Amazon prices it between @ $25 and $35
Contact Info:
- Website: janisrdickey.com and financialprep101.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJanisR/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht8HxDPooK0 and https://www.youtube.com/@JanisRDickeyPhD
