From Medium.com
When the pandemic hit something incredible happened to me. I released all of the fears I had, especially the ones I had around money and that led me to finish my book and my signature talk. I embraced my niche and started attracting ideal clients to my practice and people who could help me further my career. It’s amazing how God/Spirit/Universe answers you once you ask for what you want and need.
Dawn Santoriello is eager to inspire each of us to reach a balance in our lives when it comes to our money dreams and goals.
The author of the new book The Spiritual Path to Prosperity: The Truth About Money Revealed (July 2021), believes there are simple steps to financial wellness.
“It’s all about getting out of your way,” says the Certified Financial Planner™ an accountability coach, motivational speaker, and inspiring mentor. “We need to combine spirituality with the financial know-how to figure out how to manifest money, and properly invest it; I keep it simple and I know that it works.”
Santoriello, who resides in King of Prussia, (Suburban Philadelphia), has lived through her own financial difficulties, from growing up poor and living in and out of foster care as a five-year-old child, because her grandmother couldn’t afford to care for her, her sister and brother. In fact, she developed a black hole in her front tooth because going to a dentist was considered to be an extravagance.
“I learned that I never wanted to be poor again, so I became fascinated with making and saving money,” she explains. “I also wanted to help and inspire others who may be in the situation that they think is impossible to overcome, and show them they can meet any challenge.”
But by using tenacity, determination, and drive as an adult, she was able to turn her own finances around. In fact, she is not only sharing her advice in the U.S. and Canada, but as far as the Philippines, India, and Qatar.
“A few years ago,” she explains, “I was trapped in a parking lot with $200 to my name and I was a financial planner!”
“I knew how to make money for my clients and had all the analytical skills I needed, but because I was spiritually blocked around money, I wasn’t making it for myself,” Santoriello explained. “Once I cleared my blocks, used the law of attraction, and used my own principles, I set forth my own financial health and began making 6-figures that year.”
What sets Santoriello apart from others in the financial planning industry is clear.
“I am passionate, as anyone who has spent 10 minutes with me can attest to,” she explains. “I am committed to the success of my clients and I put my whole heart into what I do. I help my clients with their money mindset, and I give them the tools to clear any of their money blocks.”
When she hears that her clients have made a major leap in their financial health, her heart swells with joy. “It is truly one of the greatest feelings when others achieve something based on my advice.”
Upon the publication of her book, Santoriello is eager to share her personal experience and financial planning expertise, and excitement about her first book to help us with our own financial health.
What made you want to become a financial planner?
Dawn Santoriello: I grew up poor, so I saw firsthand how not having money can affect you. My grandmother raised us until we were 5 and then we were in and out of foster homes. That started because my grandmother didn’t have the money to support my sister, brother, and me. My brother was separated from us and a great family adopted my sister and me. This taught me that I never wanted to be poor again so I became fascinated with making money and saving it. I also wanted to help and inspire others who may be in a situation that they think is impossible to overcome and show them that they could overcome any challenge.
You have a unique niche, tell me about that.
I am a spiritual/holistic person, so I combined that love, with my financial background- spirituality, and money. By spirituality, I mean spiritual principles or laws such as the law of attraction with financial principles.
What makes you different from other Certified Financial Planners?
I don’t know many planners who share their “woo woo” side with the world lol. Most planners just focus on the numbers and use their left side brain. I use my left and right-side brain. I teach people how to attract money, clear money blocks, and show them how to apply sound investment and financial principles.
Please tell me more.
I am a coach and a guide. For many individuals, money is an extremely confusing, complicated, and daunting process. So, I help them reach their financial goals with peace of mind. I simplify financial topics for my clients including budgeting, investments, and insurance. I educate them and help them create a flexible financial plan that ebbs and flows as their needs change. Money doesn’t have to be a scary or taboo topic. I am passionate about helping people gain confidence and clarity around their finances.”
What was your path to transforming your financial wellness?
I let go of fear and have faith that everything would work out for the best. I developed my webinar, “Releasing the 5 Biggest Money Blocks That Are Holding You Back: How A Prayer for Abundance and Real-World Investment Strategies Changed My Life and Change Yours, Too!” to help others transform their lives and learn how to manage their finances.
What is something that you learned later in life that you wish you knew earlier?
I would say don’t try to be someone you’re not. Just be yourself and embrace your uniqueness. Use your story. Your story is your glory. I would always try to imitate other advisors and use their systems and language. It didn’t work for me and felt so scripted and unnatural. This is why it took so long for me to embrace my spiritual side and combine it with money. This ultimately led me to my signature talk and my book.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am an outdoors girl. I love mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and other outdoor sports, as well as my Peleton workouts. I enjoy spending time in nature and with friends and family. That was one of the silver linings of the pandemic; I appreciated slowing down the pace of my busy life and had fewer distractions and more quality time with my loved ones.
Can you tell me about your book — “The Spiritual Path to Prosperity…The Truth About Money Revealed?”
I share my story, a powerful manifestation prayer, how to release the 5 biggest money blocks, what works and doesn’t work when it comes to investing in the stock market, and a long-term savings strategy. I had the idea probably about four years ago but quickly rejected it. There was no way I could write about spirituality and money. People won’t take me seriously if I start talking about the law of attraction. I needed to get my CFP designation before I even thought about that so I would appear credible to people. Wow, did I have some more money blocks to clear.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect all of this?
When the pandemic hit something incredible happened to me. I released all of the fears I had, especially the ones I had around money and that led me to finish my book and my signature talk. I embraced my niche and started attracting ideal clients to my practice and people who could help me further my career. It’s amazing how God/Spirit/Universe answers you once you ask for what you want and need.
Please put into perspective how big of a problem this is?
You need to combine spirituality and money. It doesn’t matter how smart or analytical you are, that doesn’t guarantee success with money. The beliefs you have around money will have a major impact on you being able to hold onto money or even receive money. Look at the story, that I share in my book.
What are your 7 Tips for The Spiritual Path to Prosperity:
1. It’s important to have practical financial knowledge and the spiritual side of money. You need both. Know how to manifest what we want — learn the powerful manifestation tool that I use all the time to create my life.
2. Learn how to clear the 5 biggest money blocks that are holding you back from living the life you want by changing your beliefs about money and re-writing your money story with action steps leading to your new money reality.
3. Demystify investments so you can grow your money by using a simple, academically proven strategy known as Evidence-Based Investing to avoid costly mistakes that could stop you from reaching your goals faster.
4. Learn how to become debt-free sooner.
5. Learn how to make a Spending Plan that works for you and your life.
6. Learn a long-term savings strategy that the wealthy use to be more efficient with their money and to create tax-free money in retirement.
7. Using an advisor as a guide is very important because it will help you avoid making emotional decisions with your money.