Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Ho.
Hi Terri , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path into financial planning was anything but traditional. I was raised by a single mother, and growing up, money was not something we had the luxury of understanding strategically. Like many people, I learned a lot about finances simply by living through them.
My career evolved over time, but what ultimately drew me to financial planning was realizing how much our financial lives affect almost every other decision we make. Money is rarely just about money. It impacts our relationships, careers, families, confidence, and sometimes even our ability to make choices about the direction of our lives.
My specialty in divorce financial planning also has a very personal beginning. I watched my mother go through a difficult divorce and saw firsthand how overwhelming the financial side of starting over could be. At the time, I did not have the knowledge or tools I have today, but that experience stayed with me.
As my career in wealth management developed, I began to recognize how common her experience was. So many women are incredibly capable and successful yet may not have been the person primarily managing the investments, taxes, retirement accounts, insurance, or other pieces of their family’s financial life. When divorce or another major life transition happens, they are suddenly expected to understand all of it while also navigating an incredibly emotional time.
That realization ultimately led me to become a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and develop a specialty in divorce financial planning. I wanted to help people understand not just what they might receive in a settlement, but what those decisions could mean for their lives five, ten, or twenty years later. Something that looks equal on paper can have very different tax consequences, cash flow implications, and long-term value.
Years later, going through a divorce myself gave me an entirely different perspective. I understood the numbers professionally, but I also came to understand the emotional side of making major financial decisions while your life is changing around you. It reinforced something I strongly believe today: financial education should happen before a crisis, not because of one.
I earned several professional designations and ultimately became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. That accomplishment meant a lot to me because my career was not built from a perfectly mapped out plan. It was built through persistence, curiosity, uncomfortable growth, and being willing to keep betting on myself.
Today, I am a Financial Advisor with Manske Wealth Management in Houston. I help clients make thoughtful decisions about their wealth, particularly during periods of change, but an equally important part of my work is financial education. I want people, especially women, to understand their finances before they are ever forced to understand them because something has gone wrong.
Looking back, I think that is what connects all the different chapters of my story. Financial independence creates choices, and having choices can completely change the direction of someone’s life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think some of the hardest chapters have shaped me the most.
I did not take the traditional path into this industry. My career in wealth management developed over time, and I built my knowledge, experience, and professional credentials along the way. There were moments when I wondered whether I was too late or too far behind, especially in an industry where so many people seemed to have followed a much more linear path.
I also entered an industry that has historically looked and felt very traditional. Finding my own voice and becoming confident in what I brought to the table took time. Early on, I sometimes felt like I needed to fit a certain mold to be taken seriously. Eventually, I realized that I did not need to look, sound, or have the same story as everyone else to belong in the room.
Some of my biggest growth has come from putting myself in rooms before I felt completely ready, hearing no, making mistakes, asking questions, and continuing to show up. Over time, I stopped looking at my unconventional path as something I needed to overcome and started recognizing it as one of my strengths.
That lesson became even more meaningful in my personal life. I have navigated major changes of my own, including divorce and starting a new chapter at 40. There is something humbling about professionally helping people prepare for major life transitions and then finding yourself experiencing one. It gave me an even deeper appreciation for the fact that financial knowledge does not remove the emotions or uncertainty that come with change. What it can give you is the ability to make decisions from a place of understanding rather than fear.
I no longer view the unconventional parts of my journey as disadvantages. They are a large part of what allows me to connect with the people I serve. I know what it feels like to start later, start over, question yourself, and still keep moving forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Financial Advisor with Manske Wealth Management in Houston and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. My work centers around helping individuals and families make thoughtful financial decisions, particularly when life becomes more complex.
My work goes well beyond investments. Financial planning is about understanding how all the pieces of someone’s financial life work together, including investments, retirement, cash flow, taxes, insurance, estate planning, debt, and major financial decisions. My role is to help clients see the bigger picture and understand how the decisions they make today can affect them years from now.
One area I specialize in is divorce financial planning. I work with individuals before, during, and after divorce to help them understand the financial implications of the decisions in front of them. Divorce can involve everything from dividing investments and retirement accounts to evaluating real estate, taxes, cash flow, insurance, and long term financial security. My goal is to take something that can feel incredibly overwhelming and make it understandable so clients can make informed decisions about their future.
I am also passionate about financial education, particularly for women. I want women to know what they own, what they owe, how their money is invested, where their income is going, and what their financial future actually looks like. You should not have to wait for a divorce, death, career change, or other major life event to become engaged in your own finances.
What I believe sets me apart is my ability to make complex financial concepts feel approachable. Finance has a language of its own, and sometimes our industry makes things sound far more complicated than they need to be. I never want someone sitting across from me nodding because they are embarrassed to say they do not understand. If my client cannot explain the strategy back to me in their own words, I have more work to do.
I am most proud of the trust my clients place in me. Being invited into conversations about someone’s money also means being invited into conversations about their family, fears, goals, relationships, and future. That responsibility is something I take very seriously.
At the end of the day, I do not believe financial planning is simply about accumulating the biggest number possible. It is about creating a life where your money gives you choices, flexibility, and the ability to decide what comes next.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy starts first and foremost with God. My faith keeps me grounded, reminds me to stay grateful, and helps me trust the timing and direction of my life.
My family is also incredibly important to me. As I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate time with the people I love even more. Life gets busy, careers grow, and priorities change, but having people who know you beyond what you do professionally keeps everything in perspective.
I am also genuinely happiest when I can help someone solve a problem. That probably explains a lot about why I love what I do. Whether it is helping a client work through a complicated financial decision, connecting someone with the right person, or simply helping a friend figure something out, I love being able to make someone’s life a little easier.
Friendship is another big one for me. I value genuine friendships, especially the kind where your friends cheer for your success like it is their own. I love being surrounded by good people who support one another, celebrate one another, and genuinely want to see each other win.
Staying active is also a big part of my happiness. Working out keeps me physically strong, but it is just as important for my mental wellbeing. It is one of the ways I clear my head, reset, and stay grounded when life gets busy.
And then there is food. I LOVE food. Trying new restaurants, discovering new dishes, traveling and experiencing cultures through food, or simply sharing an amazing meal with people I love makes me ridiculously happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://manskewealth.com/about/#team
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terri_ho/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/territho
