Meet Michelle Slagell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Slagell.

Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I truly believe that I have been preparing for where I am today for the past twenty years — my preparation manifested within my passion for finance. My career in the financial industry began in October of 1999, right at the peak of the “Tech Bubble”. I started working as a Customer Service Representative in the shareholder services department at OppenheimerFunds, Inc in Centennial, CO. I quickly began acquiring my security licenses and moved to the distribution side of the organization where I was a Regional Advisor Consultant covering the Pacific Northwest. I consulted with Financial Advisors in WA, OR, AK, and ID by bringing value add ideas, that were tailored to fit their client’s specific needs.

I was intrigued by the complexity of the markets and developed a true excitement and adoration for learning and understanding investments and the variety of products that are available to invest through. I was fortunate to be surrounded by amazing talent and have experienced firsthand the ups and downs of various market cycles over the past two decades. Last year, I was faced with change when OppenheimerFunds was acquired by another firm, and all operations were moved to Atlanta, GA. My options were to either uproot and move to GA or begin a new chapter in my life. I chose the latter and joined Edward Jones in November of 2019 and began building my practice in February of 2020 in Parker, CO. I am thrilled to be serving and helping people in my community where I live and where I raised my family.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I was tasked with raising my kids by myself and I have had to work really hard, as their sole provider. I am so grateful for my career and being able to provide and take care of my kids and so proud of the young adults they’ve become. My daughter is 27 years old and is finishing her graduate degree at the University of Denver. My son is 22 years old and he is finishing his undergraduate degree in Bozeman, MT at MSU. When my son was four years old, he was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. This was one of those moments that a parent dreads — a diagnosed lifelong illness. As a single mom, there were times when I really wondered if I could do it. I had to learn how to manage diabetes and teach my baby boy how to thrive and live life as a type one diabetic. The technology for managing diabetes was not as advanced back then as it is today, and I had to give my four-year-old multiple shots every day along with finger pokes to monitor his glucose levels. Teaching my boy how to live with this disease was not enough for me, I needed to do more. It was not only about teaching my son about living in a world as a type one diabetic, but it also became about teaching the world about type one diabetes.

I learned about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in 2003, we created a family team and began fundraising year-over-year ever since. JDRF funds research not only to find a cure but also to improve the lives of those that are living with type one diabetes. Three years ago, my daughter also received the type one diagnosis, which has fueled my need to not only continue with my fundraising efforts but to elevate my goals to a whole new level. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and I am so excited to be able to partner with the local small businesses and entrepreneurs in my community.

We are going to be “Lighting Up Parker A True Blue For JDRF” and diabetes awareness during the month of November. If you’d like to make a donation Click here to visit my personal page. Or go to jdrf.org and search for “Lighting Up Parker a True Blue For JDRF”. I am committed to supporting JDRF because we as a family, have experienced firsthand the amazing advancements in technology that have come to fruition over the years from the research that JDRF has funded and will continue to fund. I will never lose hope for a cure!

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I began building my business in February of this year, right before COVID-19 and the shelter-in-place lockdown. I’ve been very fortunate that people are open to telephone and online/virtual meetings with me. What I do is help people protect and manage their wealth by building personalized plans around what is most important to them financially. My objective is to listen and learn what is most important to you. I have an established process in place to help build out a personalized strategy based on your unique goals. The relationship does not end there, we will continue to work together and ensure that you stay on track by fine-tuning and making adjustments along the way as life happens.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is being someone who my kids are proud of and being a strong member of my community while helping people reach their goals and dreams and enjoying the journey while building long-term friendships along the way.

Success for me is having made an impact on the future of those living with type one diabetes.

Contact Info:

• Address: 19751 E. Mainstreet
  Suite 273
  Parker, CO 80138
• Website: www.edwardjones.com/michelle-slagell
• Phone: 303-805-0930
• Email: michelle.slagell@edwardjones.com
• Other: linkedin.com/in/michelleslagell

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