By Isabelle Orozco, Office Coordinator
When people ask me what I'm passionate about outside of work, my answer has always been easy: dance.
I've been dancing since I was three years old. It's been part of my life for more than 20 years, and I honestly can't imagine who I would be without it. Dance gives me something I haven't found anywhere else. It allows me to express myself without saying a word, challenge myself creatively, and reminds me that I'm doing something I truly love.
For a long time, I thought dance would become my career.
As I got older, though, I realized something important: I didn't have to choose between having a career and pursuing my passion.
Today, I work full-time as the Office Coordinator at Towerpoint Wealth. My days are spent helping keep our office running smoothly, supporting our advisors and staff, coordinating team events, and making sure our clients have a great experience every time they walk through our doors. After work, I head straight to the dance studio, where I teach classes, choreograph routines, and continue growing in something that's been part of my life since childhood.
Some days are long.
My workday starts early, and many nights I don't leave the dance studio until 10 o'clock or later. It can definitely be exhausting, but I've realized that being busy doing things I care about feels very different than being busy doing things that don't fulfill me.
Ironically, I learned this after stepping away from dance for a while.
There was a period when I stopped dancing for nearly two years. Looking back, I didn't feel like myself. It felt like a piece of my identity was missing, and I realized how important it was to continue making time for something that gave my life purpose and joy.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that financial stability doesn't have to compete with your passion. In many ways, it protects it.
Having a steady job means I don't rely on dance to pay every bill or cover every expense. That takes away an enormous amount of pressure. Instead of worrying about whether every class or choreography opportunity has to generate income, I can focus on becoming a better instructor, a better choreographer, and simply enjoying what I love.
If dance were my only source of income, I think my relationship with it would be very different. There would be constant pressure to book more clients, earn more money, and make every opportunity count financially. I worry that something I love could eventually start to feel more like a burden than a passion.
Working at Towerpoint has also reinforced the importance of planning ahead.
I've always understood that saving money matters, thanks to lessons I learned from my grandparents and my mom. But being surrounded by financial professionals every day has encouraged me to think beyond simply saving. I've started contributing to retirement accounts, investing for the future, and paying closer attention to my spending because I want to build choices for my future—not just security.
That doesn't mean money is everything.
In fact, I've learned almost the opposite.
Money is important because it provides stability, but stability isn't the end goal. Happiness still matters. If all I did was chase a bigger paycheck while giving up the things that bring me joy, I don't think I'd be very happy. For me, success means finding a balance between preparing for tomorrow and enjoying today.
If I could encourage other young professionals with one piece of advice, it would be this:
Don't assume you have to wait until retirement to pursue what you love.
Build your career. Be responsible. Save for your future.
But don't put your passions on hold until "someday."
For me, dance is something my body won't be able to do forever. I don't want to look back years from now wishing I had kept dancing while I had the chance. I'm grateful that I'm in a position where I can invest in my future while still making time for something that fulfills me today.
My hope is that my future self thanks me for working hard, planning ahead, and never giving up the thing that makes me feel most like myself.
One thing I've learned from working at Towerpoint Wealth is that financial planning isn't about having all the answers, it's about having a plan that supports the life you want to live.
If you're looking for guidance on how to build that foundation, our advisors are always happy to help. Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Ask Anything meeting and bring whatever questions are on your mind. No pressure, no obligation, just an opportunity to have a conversation about your financial future.
