Annie Leible, FPQP®

Financial Planning Analyst

Tell us about something special from your youth.

I come from a small town in Missouri, and my family is very close-knit. I lived on the same street as my cousins and grandparents until I was 10 years old, so I spent every waking moment making unforgettable family memories.

Growing up there shaped my perspective on how important family is and formed the special relationships I have with my family to this day.

Share an interesting story about your family.

My childhood is filled with stories I could tell for hours. My cousins and I usually spent our time roaming the streets of our small town barefoot or at a family gathering at our grandparents’ pool in the summer, swimming until the sun went down.

We just recently sold my grandparents’ house after over fifty years of it being in our family. This was such a bittersweet occasion, but knowing another family gets to make memories there like we did makes it a little easier. This house and small town where I grew up will be something that I cherish forever.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned about helping other people?

I’ve learned that understanding where someone else is coming from is key. Every person has a different situation so being able to empathize and put yourself in someone else’s shoes is important.

What are you known for among your friends?

My friends know me as a dependable person who can make everyone laugh. I enjoy making their bad days better.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I love traveling! I take any chance I get to go to a new place, experience new things and create new memories. Other than traveling, I enjoy spending any quality time I can get with my whole family.

One of Vestia’s values is to model “wealth that matters.” What does this mean to you?

My view of wealth that matters took a whole new perspective on my recent family vacation. In January of 2018, my family and I went to Honolulu, Hawaii, which happened to be the same week Hawaii received the false alarm ballistic missile attack. When we received the notification on our phones, we decided to head to a coffee shop where sat and waited nearly 45 minutes not knowing what was going to happen.

I spent 45 minutes not knowing if there was a future and wondering if I had done every single thing I wanted to in my life so far. In that short – but also very long – period of time, I realized how important it is to truly live life to the fullest every single day.

I found myself realizing there were too many people I needed to tell how much I loved them but may not have the time to tell them. I think we spend so much time planning for the future, not realizing that we may not get a future, so why not do it now? Go to the places you want, spend time with the people you care about, make sure you tell them how much they mean to you, and – as cliché as it sounds – spend every day like it’s your last.