Financial Focus: Lessons from Mom!
By Professor Anthony Rivieccio MBA PFA
Moms! Yes , we love them! Yes, we listen to them. Yes, at times we think we know best. Most of the time , we probably do , and most of the time we still listen to Mom, and learn!
Mom taught me how important College was. Not by example, I was the first to go. She taught me by prying it Into my head that I had to find a good venue to go into; to help myself and to help my family- a divorced mother with 3 kids who was barely holding on to her paraprofessional teaching job herself, while living in the wild and wacky world of The Burning Bronx of the 1970s.
Mom also taught me how valuable money was and is. Being the oldest of 3 and always agreeing with Mom to help her carry the groceries in exchange for a candy allowance , which was always a good thing. Until one day, as I get the every week/ never change bag of candies and the cashier tells me” it’s .25 cents more”, I tell her that I want to see the manager.
When the manager tells me, ” it’s because of inflation”, I looked at my mom ( and the people in the store) and screamed out loud ” He’s a thief”.
On the rare times where Mom had to take us to work ( yes she snuck us into her schools and classes) I was amazed watching my mother work with children. I believe they were in Junior high school. I barely remember the subject matter, but what blew my mind was watching her work. She controlled the classroom. Taught, and explained content to a class that looked like they wanted to learn. Mom made sure everyone understood each lesson and I remember many a time where we would stay 15 minutes extra while Mom was helping a student after class.
Mom used to tell me all the time, whether I was going to College or at many of my part time jobs: ” Don’t eat out, bring a house bag. It’s cheaper and easier to bring something from home”.
I was the first to graduate College on both sides of our family. My sisters were right behind me. Both of my sisters, including myself are teachers, two of us, College Professors, the other , a Board of Education Dance instructor. And myself, I wanted to learn so much about money after that grocery store incident that I graduated with my BS & MBA in Personal Finance , and am honored to teach it. And yes I write this and seeing how ” take out ” food has appoximatly gone up 10 % a year for 3 years, I am honored to say I am eating a bit infamous ” last night dinner leftovers”.
I could mention a million things I learned , both the easy and hard way, regarding Mom.
I hope Mom was proud. She left us over the weekend, in her sleep battling a disease for over 15 years.
Mom loved the first 10 years of my financial life- working on Wall Street and making a million dollars ( while working a million hours) . She hated my last 20 years running my own Financial Advisory firm. My mother believed , as many during her time, that Money was the route to happiness. Yes we fought about it quite a bit as my bottom line, while all mine, was on avg, about 30% less than your average Wall Street brokers.
The one constant : were all teachers!. In my most recent class, where I had 2 students struggling, I asked them to meet with me 48 hours before the final exam for tutoring. Their final exam was Wednesday, two days before Mom’s demise. They passed.
As my heart cries a bit as I am writing this, I will remember most: her lessons!
Professor Anthony Rivieccio, MBA PFA, is the founder of The Financial Advisors Group, celebrating its 25th year as a full service financial planning & investment firm Anthony is also owner of Rivieccio Financial Advisors, a virtual only financial advisory firm, opened in 2021. Mr. Rivieccio, a recognized financial expert since 1986, has been featured by many national and local media including: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, The New York Post, News 12 The Bronx, Bloomberg News Radio, BronxNet Television, the Norwood News, The West Side Manhattan Gazette, Labor Press Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, WINS 1010 Radio, The Co-Op City News, The Bronx News, thisisthebronX.info and The Bronx Chronicle. Mr. Rivieccio also pens a financial article called “Money Talk”. Anthony is also currently an Adjunct Professor of Business, Finance & Accounting for both, City University of New York & Monroe College, a Private University. For financial assistance, Anthony can be reached at (347) 575-5045. Have Facebook? My personal page is:
About The Author
Dear Anthony Rivieccio, My heart goes out to you. I had no idea about the your growing up and your family tree. I had no I dear you were in wall street and wanted to have your own business. I had no I dear you ran your own business. How no idea you were a professor. I had no idea you have your own newspaper article. I notice had Bob Press talks with you often. I notice how you speak with command in the organize party of one hundreds democracy. I remember one time I meet you in the housing court and I was thinking about why you were there and how at easy you were standing there as if you know the place like the back of your hand. I remember the place being built. I was one of the security guards for epic security to be place in that place. I ‘m sad about the news you, (Anthony), and your family are going through. I remember the morning my mother died. I and my whole family was sadden. It was hard to move on with life. The more I think about my mom the more she lives in my mind. The more I see her pictures the more her memory lives. You can prepared for what can happen but you never get over the experience. The strength comes when you look into the unknown and smile. Smile through the rain drops. I learn a whole much about life and people by learning and reading in books the experiences of other people and had they work through their own life. All my love for You, (Anthony), and the Rivieccio family. Reachout to your students and family, friends, their be there for you and your mom. Love ya Anthony chris