IFW member Jeanne Mpondo has been an Associate Partner for SJP from September 2022 and she has been the Principal Adviser of EM & MJ Wealth Management based in the Knightsbridge office in London from May 2023. Previously, she worked between 2019 and 2021 as a Senior Data Analyst for S&P Global Markets Intelligence with a focus on Private Equity/Venture Capital markets & Advisory for the EMEA region with a focus on due diligence, manager research and strategy validation. Jeanne describes herself as being “passionate about making financial wellbeing accessible to all” and emphasises the importance of “securing financial resilience in uncertain times but also providing peace of mind to individuals and their loved ones in both prosperous and less favourable circumstances.”
We’re fully on board with that mindset. Read on discover what makes IFW member Jeanne tick.
How would you summarise your passions, both in and out of work?
I am a curious mind with an appetite for lifting others and helping them the best I can. It’s also a learning process for me, so I approach it with an open mind, knowing that I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, it’s been growing from various life experiences as much as from professional training.
What’s your happiest memory?
A two-week holiday spent with all four of my siblings at a time when we were usually scattered all over the country. It felt good to spend quality time together and build memories I cherish to this day.
What one thing do you wish you’d been told about finance when you were 15?
Valuing time can mean recognising that missed opportunities impact your next steps. If you can start saving early, take the chance to do so. You can still catch up later, but it’s less painful if you start as early as possible. Taking risks should always be proportionally rewarded; otherwise, it’s betting on uncalculated risks.
What made you want to work in finance?
I wanted to make sense of my environment and the world at large. Whatever needs to be done requires the means to make it happen, including human resources and capital. Measuring the impact of the latter gradually dictates the quest to know more. Finance was perceived as a tool for clarification rather than an end in itself.
How did this lead to you wanting to provide a holistic financial wellbeing approach?
The episode of COVID-19 certainly did one thing: it emphasised the interconnection between the social, cultural, emotional, and financial aspects of our lives with acuity. Tackling any aspect of our lifestyle in isolation did not make sense, as we quickly learned that all these dimensions matter to maintain our balance. After such an experience, it’s difficult not to see how finance pervades everything we do and impacts our mental health, social interactions, professional choices, and overall wellbeing.
What prompted you to join the Institute for Financial Wellbeing?
Having the opportunity to share ideas about the importance of additional dimensions in the financial decision-making process was very attractive. The IFW offers a network of likeminded individuals keen to explore valuable alternatives for servicing clients, encompassing social, mental, and emotional dimensions to reduce poor outcomes. Understanding that the whole experience can be as fulfilling for the adviser or coach as for the client is crucial.
What is your top tip for someone wanting to improve their financial wellbeing?
From my perspective, the most important aspect is to know who you are, what your values are, and how this information feeds into designing a financial plan that provides long-term satisfaction. A clear vision helps, and if not, working towards shaping it as much as possible to get to a point where it makes sense to pick an option not only because it’s financially rational but also because it fits an identified purpose. This is where the notion of peace of mind gains traction as a result of this process.
Who or what is your favourite wellbeing guru, podcast or book?
I have an interest for the approach of (Certified Financial Planner and New York Times columnist) Carl Richards. He’s been influential in the sense that he has consistently emphasised the fact planning is more of a philosophy. It does not end at the choice of an option. It’s an ongoing process that’s applicable in wider aspects of life.
What are you doing to advance your own financial wellbeing?
I make sure the financial decisions I make are rooted in meaning for my own personal growth, and I also keep myself informed about new trends in neuroscience, fintech and lifestyle.
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