Navigating Finance as a Primero: My Journey and Mission to Empower First-Generation Americans

Welcome to my blog, where I share my journey as a Primero (first-generation American) in the hope of guiding others like me along their paths. Before we dive in, I want to be upfront: I hesitated to start this blog because, as a big introvert, stepping into the limelight isn’t easy for me. But I received great advice—if you’re passionate about something, share it with the world. Since there’s not a lot of financial content tailored for first-gen individuals, I want to be intentional about contributing to this community in a meaningful way.

The theme of this blog revolves around everything money from the perspective of a first-gen individual. There are four pillars of overall well-being: Financial, Emotional, Spiritual, and Physical. Many topics will intersect with these areas because one pillar doesn’t function well without the others (balance).

I’m Uziel Gomez, the youngest of four and the son of hardworking immigrants. I’m a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and an Accredited Financial Counselor. My career didn’t start in a finance 101 class but rather in my childhood, where I witnessed my mother counting money for rent. I remember her giving thanks that she had diligently set this money aside. She would sigh with relief and say, “We wouldn’t have been able to pay this month’s rent if I hadn’t saved this money.” She used a technique called “out of sight, out of mind” (a method where money is saved in a less accessible or visible place and only accessed when absolutely necessary). Despite being low-income, my parents were great at managing money. They understood the importance of living within our means and avoiding a lavish lifestyle. While they were skilled at saving for emergencies (and there were many growing up) and maintaining healthy spending habits, they lacked resources and guidance beyond basic budgeting. Witnessing this laid the foundation for my own financial journey.

The Spark

At 17, a friend explained the importance of having a great credit score and how to build my credit responsibly. He encouraged me to apply for a credit card as soon as I turned 18 and shared tips to avoid falling into debt. His advice was invaluable because there was no one else to explain these concepts to me. However, his knowledge was limited—he didn’t know about the factors that make up a credit score or which credit cards offer better approval odds for someone with no credit history (he’s also a Primero). This led me to delve deeply and spend countless hours understanding the credit system and how to build my credit (more on this subject to come). This sparked my passion for finance, although at the time, I didn’t realize it could become a career.

Passion

I initially pursued higher education because I saw it as a path to help my family overcome poverty. Lacking a passion for any specific career, I often felt lost during my undergraduate years. It wasn’t until discovering financial planning at CSUN that I found my calling—combining my love for numbers with a desire to empower others, especially within my community.

Encountering many obstacles on my journey, I realized there were many other Primeros—first-generation college students, first to work in a professional setting, and first to break barriers. My story isn’t unique; countless others are also striving to support their parents while paving the way for future generations. As Primeros continue to progress, they encounter more complex obstacles, often navigating them with limited information.

Establishing Primeros

Upon entering the profession, I quickly noticed the lack of accessibility to financial planning in my community, primarily due to high fees and a lack of representation among financial planners (according to the CFP® board, only 3,140 CFP® professionals identify as Hispanic or Latino nationwide). I realized that if I wanted to work with Primeros, I needed to start my own practice to make real financial planning affordable and accessible. Through Primeros Financial, my goal is to serve as a guide to Primeros as they navigate their journey. I aim to empower them with the knowledge and tools they need to use money as a resource to live a fulfilling life.

This material is intended for educational purposes only. The information and opinions expressed on any websites linked in this material are from unaffiliated third parties. While they are deemed trusted and reliable, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

Here I am with my parents celebrating my “virtual” graduation in 2021.