Addressing the needs of 1^st Generation Financially Successful Professionals

Keeping forward motion is crucial to your journey as a 1^st generation financially successful person.  Your legacy is your family’s new financial trajectory.  We are rooting for you, every step of the way! Cheers to your financial success, your mental well-being, and the pursuit of caring for your family for generations to come. 

♦AT-THE-HELM♦

The head of the family is responsible for providing leadership and setting the example for their family. It’s an authority position within the lineage.  The matriarch is the absolute power held by the female which is usually the mother or eldest female in the family.  The patriarch is the dominance of the family by the male which is the father or eldest male in the family.

As a head of household (HOH) taxpayer, you must furnish over 50% of the cost of maintaining the household for you and a qualifying person—it’s usually for single or unmarried taxpayers who support and house a qualifying person—generally a child or parent of the HOH.

There’s obviously criterion to qualify as the helm whether it’s head of family or HOH.

“As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.”—Toni Morrison

However, with all of that, trying to navigate where you fall in the family dynamics changes from your birth position to something more complicated.

As a first generation financially successful professional, where you were born in the family changes meaning.  No matter your birth position, financial success propels you to being a leader in the family by setting the example for the family henceforth; and, naturally repositions you to first position for the financial responsibility. Oftentimes, you feel powerless from such a powerful position, in part, because all of the criterion hasn’t been met. 

You’re leading and being financially responsible for supporting the family but the authority never shifted. 

Rather than focusing on authority, think about settling into your power with your inherent leadership capabilities and increased respect. 

A few tips—continue to be kind and considerate of others; but also, engage leadership qualities (you already have) like strategic and critical thinking, empowerment of others, high emotional intelligence, and being an active listener.