GoGirl Experts

Lena Rizkallah is the founder of Money Moxie, a series of personal money management workshops that empower women, small business owners and artists to take control of their financial future. Her casual, interactive workshops focus on smart budgeting strategies, credit card respect, investing and retirement planning. Follow her blog at www.moneymoxie.wordpress.com; on Twitter @moneymoxie: and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lenamoney.

Manisha Thakor is the Founder/CEO of MoneyZen Wealth Management. Known for making the complex simple, Manisha and her team provide holistic, joy-based financial planning and investment management services for women and families with $1 million to $10+ million in investible assets. Manisha is also an active financial literacy advocate for women of all income and wealth levels. She is the co-author of two personal finance books: ON MY OWN TWO FEET and GET FINANCIALLY NAKED and serves as a Financial Fellow at Wellesley College. She earned her MBA from Harvard, BA from Wellesley and is a CFA charterholder. Manisha’s website is MoneyZen.com.

Jordana is an expert on financial aid and student debt. She founded SpareSugar (www.sparesugar.com), which explains the ins and outs of student loans in no-nonsense terms. She's also got a strong command of economic and financial policy as she is a speechwriter for the Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). She's got a Masters from London School of Economics and Sciences Po. She'd love to help you better understand your student loans, so reach out - jordana@sparesugar.com.

This post was contributed by Brittney Castro, a Los Angeles based CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and creator of FinanciallyWiseWomen.com. Brittney Castro, CFP® helps create a financial road map for a woman’s different goals in life. She also educates clients on different options, enabling them to make smart decisions. She has a passion for educating individuals on financial topics and speaks for various groups and organizations. Brittney Castro is available for speaking engagements, radio and telephone interviews, and other media appearances. Connect with Brittney at www.FinanciallyWiseWomen.com. Brittney Castro is not affiliated with GoGirlFinance.com. Brittney A. Castro is a registered representative with and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. California Insurance License #0F33895.

Susan is an expert on executive coaching, career transition, and leadership development. She is a partner at Weil & Wein, a NYC-based firm that provides services to corporations, graduate business schools, and individual professionals across all industry sectors. Prior to founding Weil & Wein, Susan spent her career on Wall Street in investment banking and real estate. She received an MBA from the Yale School of Management, a BSE from the Wharton School, and certification from Columbia University’s Coaching Program. Feel free to check out the firm’s website, www.weilandwein.com, or email Susan at sweil@weilandwein.com.


Russ Thornton specializes in working with independent women as a wealth management advisor with Wealthcare Capital Management, Inc. He is based in Atlanta, GA, and works with women across the country. You can learn more about him by visiting his website, Wealthcare For Women.

Galia Gichon is an independent personal financial expert with more than 18 years of experience in financial services, including nearly 10 years on Wall Street and an MBA in Finance. She runs her own company, Down to Earth Finance, which offers personal financial education, and is completely independent! She offers individual sessions and seminars. She has been quoted or made appearances in the TODAY SHOW, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Glamour, SELF and much more. She is also the author of “My Money Matters” kit which was featured in Newsweek and the TODAY SHOW. Visit her at www.downtoearthfinance.com.

Eleanor Blayney is a certified financial planner and President of Directions for Women, LLC, dedicated to changing the personal finance conversation for women through programs that empower, educate, and engage women in the management of their resources. She is also the author of two books, “Women’s Worth: Finding Your Financial Confidence” and “The Home Budget Workbook.” A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Cambridge University, UK, Eleanor also earned an MBA from the University of Chicago where she specialized in finance and international business.

Terri is an expert on executive coaching, career transition, and leadership development. She is a partner at Weil & Wein, a NYC-based firm that provides services to corporations, graduate business schools, and individual professionals across all industry sectors. Prior to founding Weil & Wein, Terri spent her career on Wall Street in investment banking and sales and trading. Terri received an MBA and BSE from the Wharton School and certification from Columbia University’s Coaching Program. Feel free to check out the firm’s website, www.weilandwein.com, or email Terri at twein@weilandwein.com.

Susan is a Senior Managing Director and Associate Broker at Warburg Realty. She focuses on New York City properties and works with buyers and sellers in all neighborhoods and price ranges. Susan advises her clients on every facet of the transaction, including arranging financing, negotiation and selecting architects, decorators and contractors. Prior to joining Warburg Realty and working full time as a residential real estate broker, she practiced Real Estate Law. Her legal experience has proved to be a tremendous asset in negotiating the best possible terms for her clients. She has been quoted in "New York Magazine" and "The New York Times" for her opinion on the real estate market and appeared on the television show "Open House". Susan is a contributing writer and real estate expert for GoGirlFinance.com. She has served on the cooperative board of the Tower East building. Susan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She resides on the Upper Eastside with her husband Michael, who is also a broker at Warburg Realty. You can reach Susan via email at sabrams@warburgrealty.com

Ornella Grosz has emerged as the optimistic financial voice during a turbulent and uncertain economy. She is a CFEd® Certified Financial Educator, keynote speaker, author, and financial expert. Her money advice can be found on various media outlets. Using her vibrant and conversational style of communication, her message resonates using a mix of cultural wit, humor, financial fundamentals — and a healthy dose of “splurge to save.” She empowers Generation Y, women, workplace employees, and beyond to take control of their personal finances. Her book, Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y, is a required reading for a finance class at California State University of Northridge. She is also the host of the Women's Financial Empowerment Conference: http://wfec.co/. Her website is ornellagrosz.com and you can follow her blog at www.moneylicious.org; on Twitter @OrnellaGrosz: and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorOrnellaGrosz

Jacquette M. Timmons helps busy professionals tackle the financial concerns that keep them up at night by melding the psychology of money with the mechanics of it. She works as a financial coach, trainer, and speaker. Jacquette is also the author of "Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate" and the creator of the Financial Intimacy Conference. Follow her: @jacqmtimmons

Lisa Gates is a professional development coach and negotiation trainer. She is cofounder of She Negotiates Training and Consulting whose mission is to close the income and leadership gaps by helping women connect their self worth to their net worth. She blogs regularly at Forbes Woman and has been featured on NPR, CNN, Huffington Post, and Daily Muse among others. For upcoming virtual and in-person trainings, visit She Negotiates.

Jacoba Urist is a lawyer, writer, and mom in New York City. Currently, she is a contributor to both NBCNews and Forbes, where she covers financial, legal, and current news for parents. She has also written for The Atlantic, Newsweek/TheDailyBeast, and The Wall Street Journal. Jacoba has her BA in political science from Johns Hopkins and her MA in Policy Studies. She is also a graduate of the NYU School of Law, where she received her JD and LL.M. in taxation. Jacoba's website is: www.JacobaUrist.com and you can follow her on twitter, @TheHappiestpare.

Kent Smetters is a Boettner Chair Professor at The Wharton School. He is also co-founder of Veritat Advisors that provides comprehensive, honest and affordable financial planning to middle-class households. You can receive a free financial assessment of your current situation, with absolutely no obligation, from www.Veritat.com.

Jeffrey A. Landers, CDFA™ is a Divorce Financial Strategist™ and the founder of Bedrock Divorce Advisors, LLC, a firm which exclusively advises affluent women throughout the United States before, during and after divorce. He assists women and their divorce attorneys with deciding on the most advantageous way to divide marital assets and enable them to negotiate more favorable settlements, especially when there are complicated financial and tax issues. He also writes for Forbes.com and the Huffington Post. For further information, please go to: http://www.BedrockDivorce.com or email Jeff at: Landers@BedrockDivorce.com.

Melissa Donohue, Ed.D. is a financial education consultant, and founder and CEO of Financial Nutrition, Inc., a firm that specializes in financial education curriculum design and seminars for women and girls. Melissa has a Doctoral degree in Education with a research specialization in women and finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Masters in International Affairs with a specialization in Banking and Finance from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Melissa has worked in financial education for nine years, including designing a financial program for teenagers that included a financial trading floor and live market simulations, along with curricula for programs at the high school and college level. In addition to designing online and classroom financial curricula, Melissa has consulted on financial video and online programming for WNET, the New York tri-state PBS affiliate. Melissa has written and edited educational materials for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst program at the CAIA Association. Melissa also has 10 years experience in finance and financial journalism, including time at Swiss Bank Corporation, Wasserstein Perella, and Bloomberg. L.P.

Teresa Dentino pioneered financial education for women thirty years ago at the time she became among the nation’s first women stockbrokers. Since then, and through the firm she founded in 2001, The Financial 411 (www.thefinancial411.com), the first ever exclusively educational platform for women, she has achieved many firsts in advancing women-centric financial literacy. Through conversations with thousands of women, combined with major academic study findings on women’s behaviors with finance and investing, Teresa has developed a systematic approach that imparts financial empowerment to women of any experience level. Her evidence-based coaching also prepares women for solo financial management brought upon commonly by widowhood and divorce. Teaching women the financial management skills they need to be informed decision-makers – whether they work with a professional adviser or not – is her forte. Teresa earned the FINRA licenses Series: 7, 3, 63, 65, and 24, achieving the highest designation of General Securities Principal, and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ credential. Teresa also works with financial institutions to help them understand how to better serve the unique needs and behaviors of women clients. A popular speaker, writer and media guest, Teresa is available for speaking engagements and interviews or you may follow her on Twitter @thefinancial411.