A Conversation with Hazel Secco, A Financial Planner Who Empowers Women to Take Control of Their Financial Lives

Hazel Secco is the founder and CEO of Align Financial Solutions, LLC. She brings more than a decade of financial industry experience with a passion for advocating women’s financial wellness as a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). Hazel's mission is to empower women through education, enabling them to make informed decisions with confidence and clarity. Having experienced the financial and emotional strain of divorce in her family of origin, she became a CDFA to better understand and support her clients during this challenging transition. She prioritizes addressing women's holistic well-being by collaborating with other wellness practitioners and healthcare professionals. Hazel's dedication to empowering women to take control of their financial lives is deeply personal. She successfully navigated her journey as a business owner, mother and wife, confronting personal challenges stemming from her cultural background and upbringing. Hazel, unafraid of vulnerability, shares her own experiences to uplift women facing similar situations. Her commitment to women's wellness, both as a mother and a female business owner, coupled with her collaboration with other wellness professionals, distinguishes her as a true pioneer in advocating for women from diverse perspectives. Hazel's first "discovery meeting" with potential clients begins with an exploration of what is most important to that person. "I try to help a client determine what they want to secure for their financial futures, when they want to retire, when they might want to go back to work [if they were at-home parents] or if they want to change their career paths or go back to school," Hazel says. Clarifying such desires can inform how one should plan for divorce and separation of assets. "It is frightening for women who may not know where to start or what to do," Hazel adds. "Qualitative answers [to the questions I pose] can take a long time to answer." Hazel and her team can help alleviate financial concerns that are often attendant to what can be an emotionally draining process. "A CDFA is the first divorce professional one should reach out to so that you can understand your options," advises Hazel. Hazel came to the U.S. from South Korea in 2010 to pursue her studies, graduated from University at Buffalo, SUNY with a BA in Psychology and remained in the New York/New Jersey area. Hazel's company assists women with retirement planning, risk assessment, divorce financial analysis and investment management. Many of her clients come to her via referrals from collaborative divorce attorneys and therapists. I wish I had met her before I got divorced! Learn more and follow Hazel at the links below: Website: ⁠www.alignfinancialsolutions.com⁠ Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/alignfinancialsolutionsllc⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazel-secco/