The AlumNow series showcases former students’ post-graduation successes.
We recently caught up with Emely Garcia who is a Financial Solutions Advisor for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Read about her educational journey at Dallas ISD and how her teachers impacted her to give back to her community.
What high school did you graduate from and what year did you graduate?
Sunset High School in 2017.
What are your responsibilities as a Financial Solutions Advisor?
As a financial solutions advisor, my role is to help clients identify financial goals and create a financial plan to achieve those goals. I take a holistic view of a client’s overall financial picture and create a disciplined solution using a variety of investment tools such as mutual funds, bonds, etc. The process begins with educating clients on financial literacy. The community I serve is the community I have always been around, Oak Cliff. Financial literacy is not something that is common and can be intimidating for most clients, but sharing that wealth of knowledge of creating generational wealth is always a priority.
What are some career or personal highlights/accomplishments?
Some of my personal highlights were achieving my Series 7 and Series 66. Series 7 is a license that entitles an individual to sell all types of securities products such as stocks, mutual funds, etc. Series 66 is a license that allows you to serve as an investment advisor representative. I give kudos to any individual who has achieved these licenses because it is no easy feat.
One of my personal/career accomplishments is maintaining high performance on my team during a volatile market this year. During a time when many scurry away due to uncertainty in the economy and market, I have managed to produce high-performing quarters while also creating generational impacts by bringing on new clients. As of year to date, I stand at top 7% of 1,800 advisors nationally.
What made your Dallas ISD education unique?
What made my Dallas ISD education unique is having my mom work in Dallas ISD through my K-12 education. It was very interesting, to say the least, to have every staff member know your mom and have her in such close proximity every moment of every day, but nothing I would change in the slightest. Having my mom work for the district gave me so much insight into how much effort educators put towards their students as well as the raw outside factors many students go through. When I was in high school, my aspiration was to be a teacher myself. I saw the potential the peers around me had that wasn’t cultivated at an early age and I wanted to be that difference for the future generations to come. I currently hold my teacher certification for the state of Texas and completed my practical in Rhome ISD. I ultimately chose a different career path, but my passion for education remains the same. I still educate people every day just on a different topic and different life stage. My favorite memories with my mom working in the same high school would have to be the unlimited free snacks I could get passing by her office! For some reason, nothing tastes better than a 50-cent chip bag on a school campus.
Who was your favorite Dallas ISD teacher or what was your favorite course, and why?
My favorite Dallas ISD teacher would have to be Mrs. Huggins. When you have a teacher that goes beyond the classroom and really makes an impact on your personal development, it’s unforgettable! She was my dance teacher and our instructor for my dance company team. Through dance, I learned what it meant to have the self-discipline to achieve something through your own efforts while having strong support like Mrs. Huggins to achieve it. I believe she not only made an impact in my life but on many of my dance peers as well. Even to this day, she engages with us. She is the reason I am sharing this today.
My favorite course would have to be language arts. Growing up I have always enjoyed expressing myself through writing. Specifically poetry. I never shared this, but in college, my professor was motivating me to publish a particular piece, but I never did. Maybe one day it will see the light of day!
What advice, if any, would you offer to students who are interested in your career field?
Don’t shy away from a challenge. Be afraid and do it anyway!
