There are days in your life that you remember forever.

You remember where you were. You remember what you wore. And most importantly, you remember how you felt.

October 10, 2008. That’s my day — the one that is etched into my brain. It was the day the Dow plunged nearly 700 points — at the time, it was the index’s lowest reading in more than five years. Right in the thick of the Great Recession, a period in history when the stock markets — and the financial goals of millions of Americans — went into free-fall.

I was sitting in my office, frozen in front of my computer, trapped in a daze. Instinctively, I thought about my family, wondering how we would cope with such turmoil.

But then, I thought about my clients.

Since the very beginning of my career, I have always prioritized my commitment to my clients, first and foremost. Their ambitions, goals and dreams. How would I protect what they worked so hard to build? What about the years’ worth of savings they entrusted to me?

What happened next is a hallmark of who I am and what I do. In the months that followed October 10, I structured an investment that allowed my clients to take part in the rescue of Morgan Stanley, during the mayhem of the market panic.

Build Your Own Vision — and Believe in It

Kimberly Foss Daniel Austin RiceI grew up in Auburn, California, a town founded in 1849 during the gold rush.  One of the original settlers was my great-great-grandfather, Daniel Austin Rice, the first Wells Fargo agent in the greater Sacramento Valley in Northern California.  A career in finance was always written in the stars for me.

But it was a dream that was hard to come by. I grew up the youngest of six children, the daughter of a carpenter and an Avon lady. I was never the first girl at school to wear the new pair of jeans, let alone anything with a designer label. We didn’t have much, but the one thing my parents gave me in abundance was the ability to dream — to become anything I wanted to be.

Put simply, I learned to believe in myself. That belief allowed me to attend the college of my choice, propelled by my own hard-earned savings. It landed me a job at Merrill Lynch, where I was one of the youngest female account executives at the time. It drove me to open up my own firm.

It’s the power of choice — and my life’s work is to give it to all of you.

What I Believe In

Money Is a Choice. We all have free will — the ability to choose our path forward and increase abundance in our own lives. When you have financial security and freedom, you have the power to create the life you want. 

Service Above Self. Whether I’m working with my clients, hosting a workshop or educating investors, I will always lead with humility, encouragement and mentorship first. I wake up every morning with the passion and desire to help my clients soar further in life than they ever dreamed possible.

People Above Profit. Here is the truth: It’s not about money; it’s about people. The loved ones, family members and friends who matter most to you. Generosity, selflessness and integrity — these core beliefs are central to who I am, and how I serve my clients.

Things You May Not Know About Me

A pair of Jordache jeans (remember those?). They cost $35 and were at the very top of my wish list as a teen. My mother told me that if I earned the money myself — and put half into savings — I could purchase them. I spent weeks cutting down blackberry bushes on the property of our home, for the incredible sum of a dollar an hour. Dozens of bushes later, I bought those jeans (and I still have them today).

The day that my book, Wealthy by Design: A 5-Step Plan for Financial Security, debuted at number seven on the New York Times bestsellers list. That was the second day I’ll never forget.

My incredible children: Madison, Sara, Christopher and Jack.

My three best friends: Kim (we met in fifth grade!), Teresa and Jennifer. I feel so lucky to have such an amazing and supportive girl tribe.

Champagne! Veuve Clicquot, to be exact.

Meet Kimberly

Meet Kimberly Foss

The New York Times bestselling author and renowned financial expert who has inspired thousands to embrace the power of choice, build wealth with intention and increase abundance in their lives.

Wealthy by Design: A 5-Step Plan for Financial Security by Kimberly Foss ranked 7th in the “Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous” category of the New York Times Best Seller list on July 7, 2013, which can be accessed directly here. The designation of Kimberly Foss as a New York Times best-selling author is derived from this appearance. This recognition pertains to one particular category of the New York Times Best Seller list and refers to one specific point in time (ranking on weekly list reflect sales for the week ending June 21, 2013). The citation of the book on the New York Times list is not owned or controlled by Empyrion Wealth Management.

As noted in disclaimers above, the book’s appearance on this list and Kimberly Foss’s recognition as a New York Times best-selling author are standard information provided for general purposes only. It is not a reflection of, or a claim to, any particular investment expertise, nor does the book’s author make any warranties with respect to its use, nor should Wealthy by Design be construed as an advertisement under the auspices of Rule 206(4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

For more information on the New York Times methodology for selecting best sellers, please refer to the information on their site.