Welfare to Wealth

A testament to the strength of the human spirit, Patricia's Welfare to Wealth - The Money Story I Never Wanted to Tell traces a woman's struggle to discover her value and her journey through adversity to spiritual self-discovery despite a childhood marked by poverty, neglect and emotional abuse. This provocative and inspiring book is a mixture of autobiography and financial tips that provides a look into her first experience with money from the age of 5 to how it shaped her relationship with money today. She shares how her intuitive nature around money impacted her life which ultimately led her to become a Wealth Advisor for women. The only girl of 7 children, Patricia grew up on welfare in a home led by a single woman with no education or skills. Insightful and honest, Patricia shares her personal story of a failed marriage, the loss of her 33 days old son, 2 brothers her mother and father, discrimination, disability and financial challenges of raising her 2 children on welfare. Patricia endured the shame of being known as a "welfare kid". She artfully expressed how she learned to appreciate money as the path towards financial freedom as she observed her mother stressing over bills, pinching pennies and waiting for a compassionate soul to drop off money for groceries. Patricia offers novel guideposts to help you navigate the myriad of beliefs about the role of money in your life. When you explore your inner money life you can put your feelings to work for you in a positive way. She shows that by understanding your intimate history and relationship with money you are better able to manage your money anxieties and solve problems with ease and joy. The writing is clear, expressive, and to the point, and the story is fast paced and engaging. Some may find the graphic descriptions disturbing, including her 3 day vigil watching rigor mortis set in on her HIV positive brother and taking his last breath to discovering the lifeless body of her son in his crib. Such moments served to vividly bring the scenes, and the author's feelings about them to life. The narrative is laced with inspirational affirmations and advice about overcoming a poverty mentality. Its style is friendly, open and pleasantly conversational. Scenes are well crafted, with an apt balance of dialogue and exposition and a keen eye for sensory description. Patricia will artfully express how you can learn to appreciate money as the path towards financial freedom. She will teach you how to take charge of your life with dignity and grace, to find healing and wholeness and a deeper understanding of yourself and humanity. Self-awareness, meditation and a strong desire to become financially independent all figure into Patricia's transformation. The book is about more than just the practical elements of her life's transformation, it's about her growth as a person through the tenets of love, compassion, gratitude, and humility. These character traits make the book compelling. This book will inspire you to become more involved in navigating your financial affairs and empower you to achieve financial security and independence no matter where you came from or the challenges you face. Today, Patricia Allen, CRPC(R) is an award winning author who found her calling as a Wealth Advisor and advocate for women's and girl's issues. She is the owner of PARIS Financial Planning in San Francisco California.