Passionate about finance, education, women empowerment and children’s issues. She was nominated and selected for Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Gen Conference and was featured in Business Insider.

Anna was financially very successful at a relatively young age (mid-20’s), an enviable position to many, yet felt mostly unfulfilled. It took her no time at all to see there was a need for women and children to be properly educated and guided in finances and how smart monetary care could benefit them in the future by using and saving wisely. Now Anna seeks meaning in focusing her entrepreneurial career on financial literacy as she firmly believes that continuous learning empowers people.

We are more than happy to feature Anna Haotanto, Founder of The New Savvy, in this week’s spotlight, one which we know will motivate you to focus on your goals in this new year!

Tell us about you and your business/career, and what you were doing before you started? Did you ‘always dream’ to do what you are doing now?

I have 10 years of experience in the financial sector including wealth management, private equity, research as well as corporate and investment banking. My previous work experience includes positions at Citigroup, United Overseas Bank, a regional role in Business Monitor and a boutique private equity firm based in Shanghai.

My last role was in wealth management – managing assets and providing advice to high net worth clients. I did pretty well and won many awards. Among the numerous awards I had received, I was the Top Offshore Senior Client Advisor for two years running, within just three years of entering the industry.

I provide wealth management consultancy to select clients and conduct workshops on personal finance. I also regularly teach and mentor children and adults on financial prudence and investments, facilitating their ability to be better informed when making financial decisions.

Longtime Passion Turned Purpose
Entrepreneurs often become entrepreneurs after a change in circumstances, a change in heart or an ‘entrepreneurial seizure’ – an irresistible urge to follow their dreams.

I loved Finance and have always been intrigued by it. I have always been interested in financial management and the intricacies of money. I loved the high energy environment, the excitement and yet at the same time, I felt very unfulfilled and empty. I was earning great money, enough to make me financially independent by 28 years old but I wanted more.

I looked around and realized that most people are not financially savvy or prudent, especially women. 41% of women do not invest as they are intimidated by finance and hence, not reaching their full potential.

Thus, I started The New Savvy in the hope of helping other women be more financially savvy.

Frustrations And Lessons In Mistakes
What is your biggest challenge/frustration as an entrepreneur or professional? 

That I keep failing. I am so new to this industry that I keep making mistakes, mistakes that can be easily avoided. But the trick is just to persevere, focus and do it again and again.

I think a lot of people will dissuade you and you will meet with many pessimistic comments and negative remarks, the only way to deal with it is to ignore it.

Advice For Those With Regrets

We should have no time or capacity for regrets. It’s all a mindset. Shift your thinking to understand that your failures or regrets are lessons and learn from them. Cliché but it’s true. I made so many mistakes, faced many crises, but you just have to focus and trust yourself.

Have a laser-like focus on your goals.

Anna Haotanto’s One Line
The New Savvy is a financial platform that aims to empower women through meaningful content that is relevant and practical. We want to make money interesting to women and transform women’s relationship with money.

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_{Image Credit: Anna Haotanto} 

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