Conversations with Yolanda Franco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Franco.

Hi Yolanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Licensed attorney in California from 2001 to 2017. Became a financial advisor in 2017. Presently at Edward Jones.
Born in El Paso, Texas and lived my childhood until 8 years of age in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Grew up East Los Angeles from elementary to high school. Attended University of California at Berkeley, completed a B.A. in Psychology. Worked for various non-profits and the Los Angeles Superior Courts. Completed law school. Worked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office before opening up my own law practice in Downtown Los Angeles for 15 years.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Struggles along the way are the same we see today – misogyny, very few open doors, and absence of mentors. Most clients struggle with money to make ends meet and those that do have the money squander it without regard for their future or that of their families.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a financial advisor since 2018. I am very focused on helping Spanish language speakers understand the markets, how and why investing their money with a focused strategy can help them achieve their goals.

What were you like growing up?
Much of a tomboy. Fearless – riding motorcycles without helmets, going down hill on skateboards, and generally without adult supervision in the streets of East Los Angeles and Lincoln Heights. But the times were different and kids were generally not in as much danger as they may be encountering today.
Really good student – liked to learn. It really helped to have a Mexican school education because my math skills in 3rd grade here in the USA were about 7th or 8th grade level.
Interests were music and reading.