Financial whiz Jennifer Kim shares her inspiring story, proving that hard work, unbridled dedication and a positive attitude are the best investments for living an incredible life.
PHOTO BY PHILLIP FARAONE
From a very young age, Jennifer Kim’s future was crystal clear. “I wanted to be a financial advisor since I was seven, eight years old,” she says. Unusual? Maybe. However, for Kim, managing senior partner at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC, an interest in finance—and securing a fruitful future—was hardwired in her from childhood.
Kim moved to L.A. from Korea at one year old, settling in the Woodland Hills area with her family. After shuttling to various schools citywide through middle school, Kim’s parents moved back to Korea to take advantage of a job opportunity for her father, an architect. “I ended up moving in with my best friend’s family in L.A. for about two years, and then moved to Korea,” she explains. She attended an international school there, then returned to L.A. to finish high school without her parents.
This independence helped Kim develop confidence and a strong sense of self not typically seen in people her age. Despite living an ocean away, her parents’ influence helped inform her next steps. “My mother was a real estate agent at the time. I would go into her office and look at the trophies and plaques,” Kim shares. “I wanted to do something where I could grow money.”
Kim studied economics at UCLA, where she excelled despite a busy schedule. “I was in a sorority, I worked 80 hours a week, and I had school,” she shares. “I was nonstop—I didn’t like to take a break or rest. Every single second had to be filled with something either social or making money or studying.” This ambition was baked into her personality. “I was always trying to get ahead,” she explains. “I was thinking, if I work all these hours, I can make a lot of money, which I did. I put myself through college and could still save about $45,000. I made about $4,000 a month when I was 18 or 19.”
Working hard throughout school helped prepare Kim for her future. “The main job that made a lot of money was waiting tables,” she shares. “That’s one of the best jobs any college student can have. Because when you’re waiting tables, you learn all these social skills and how to multitask.”
Following college, Kim interned at SEIA, where she’s worked for the past 30 years. However, she didn’t initially get hired after the internship. Instead of starting a new job, she spent the summer with her parents overseas, where she won a trip to Malaysia through a contest. “I took the opportunity to go there for about 10 days alone. I didn’t know anybody. After I returned, I felt I could do anything,” she shares. “Traveling at a younger age is very beneficial because it teaches you to become independent.” This newfound confidence pushed her to try for a job at SEIA again. This time, she got it.
"TIME IS WHAT MAKES MONEY. THE LONGER THE TIME HORIZON, THE MORE MONEY YOU CAN MAKE IF YOU SAVE CONSISTENTLY.
As a financial planner and wealth manager, Kim’s day is packed with various meetings. She helps her clients increase their wealth and plan for the future. “It’s kind of like being a financial doctor,” Kim explains, noting that when she first meets clients, she asks questions to determine their current situation and goals. She then customizes their plan according to their budget and needs.
While all clients are different, there are a few rules Kim generally sticks to. “For example, you should purchase life insurance when you’re young and healthy,” she says. “You can’t do it later when you have all these issues.” She also emphasizes the importance of saving at least 20 to 30% of your income.“Time is what makes money. The longer the time horizon, the more money you can make if you save consistently.”
Thirty years at the same firm—where she’s consistently advanced over time—proves Kim is doing something right. She is currently a licensed independent insurance broker specializing in estate planning, retirement planning, and corporate benefits. What does she think makes her stand out? “I think it’s my ability to offer all those different services,” she answers. “There are not a lot of financial advisors that do everything. I don’t need to bring in specialists because I handle many different areas. I think that, plus the fact that I’m always accessible and always working.”
PHOTOGRAPHED BY PHILLIP FARAONE
Despite her busy work schedule, Kim still has time to be an involved mother to her four children and participate in social activities that interest her, including fencing, running the Korean Parents Association at Harvard Westlake where three of her four kids attend (one recently graduated), and more. “I’m also on the Finance Committee for Aviva Childcare Services, as well as the NGA, a group in Hancock Park, where we partner with different charities that have to do with women and children.”
So, how does she manage it all? “The truth is, I don’t sleep,” Kim admits. “It all stemmed from college.” Fencing and boxing two or three times a week helps balance her busy work life, and she spent five years learning how to oil paint. A program she attends once a quarter, Strategic Coach, teaches her how to better live in the moment. “You don’t have to wait until your deathbed to say, ‘I wish I could have.’ You can just start implementing those things now. If you really want to do it, you have to schedule it in.”
When asked if she’ll ever slow down, Kim stresses the importance of staying active and engaged, which gives her purpose in her daily life. “The more social interactions you have, plus work, keeps you healthy physically and mentally,” she says. “Life is short. You have to live it to its fullest.”
Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC (SEIA) is an SEC-registered investment adviser; however, such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and no inference to the contrary should be made. Securities offered through Signature Estate Securities, LLC. member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through SEIA, LLC, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067, (310) 712-2323. CA Insurance License #0B11807. For additional disclosure information, please visit our website at: https://www.seia.com/legal-disclaimer/
Photography by: PHOTO BY PHILLIP FARAONE
