Audrey Emerson sitting on the floor, surrounded by scattered books, smiling and holding a red book called "Happy Money"

Financial Joy Should Be for Everyone.

The financial services industry has a gatekeeping problem. It often feels exclusive, complicated, and judgmental, especially for women, people of color, and creative professionals. I started Cents of Joy to break down those gates.

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    Human First Approach

    We care about you as a human, no matter your net worth. You’re a human being not a human doing! Full permission to be your whole messy beautiful self.

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    Small Steps = Big Wins

     At its heart, Cents of Joy captures the idea that even small, mindful steps in managing one's finances can lead to significant happiness and a greater sense of well-being. Progress not perfection.

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    You Call The Shots

    We respect your autonomy and help you do things on your own terms. There are no stupid questions or single right answers and we’ll do our best to teach you everything you want to know. 

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    Gatebreaking > Gatekeeping

    No confusing jargon. No judgement. Just an accessible, transparent financial partner by your side when you need it.

Audrey Emerson smiling and holding a calculator close to her face, with her eyes squinting in a joyful expression.

Hey! I’m Audrey

My path to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional was a somewhat unconventional one. As a former (recovering?) theater kid, I earned a degree in film and spent years as a producer in the dynamic world of social impact entertainment and corporate video.

It was through the lens of my creative community that my interest in finance became deeply personal. My talented friends didn’t have access to traditional employer benefits like 401(k)s and affordable health insurance and I felt driven to figure out alternatives, initially to help myself and those around me. This personal exploration ignited a passion that grew as I realized I genuinely enjoyed helping my friends reduce the financial drama in their life more than being on set. This ultimately led me to pursue my CFP® certification, gain valuable experience with the team at Cultivating Wealth, and finally launch Cents of Joy Financial Planning.

My background in storytelling and understanding diverse perspectives deeply informs my accessible and empathetic approach to financial planning. My hope is that by really listening and getting to know your story, we can build a meaningful, effective, and joyful financial life for you!

Outside of talking about money, you can find me exploring the hiking and biking trails of the North Cascades and hosting monthly themed wine tasting nights with friends. Originally a New Englander, I've happily made Bellingham, WA my home (but still root for all Boston sports teams obviously).

📍 Located: Bellingham, Washington (but I work with clients remotely nationwide)

⛰️ Hobbies: Hiking uphill, biking downhill, drinking wine, birdwatching, and reading the newspaper in print!

🍕 First Job: Worked the cash register at A1 Pizza in Little Compton, Rhode Island (it was cash only so I actually made change!)

🎥 Previous Career: Producer for documentary & corporate video

✈️ Favorite Trips: Lisbon, Bordeaux, and Armenia

📚 Favorite Money Book: Finance for the People by Paco de Leon

👩‍🎓 Education: BA in Cinema & Media Studies from University of Southern California & MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University

🙄 Jargon: Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional, Advice-Only, Fee-Only Fiduciary. Translation: I don’t manage investments, and only get paid by you. I can not (and would not) accept commissions and I am legally required to put your best interests first.

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Not sure where to start?

Schedule a free 20 min introductory call and let me know what's on your mind! This gives me a chance to get to know you and see how I could help. If I’m not the right person, I’ll do my best to find someone who is or point you in the right direction.