The Arevalo Family

When we first heard Rebecca Arevalo’s story, we knew we had to help. A single mother to two young daughters, Olivia and Ramona, Rebecca had already faced more than her share of hardship — the loss of her mother, the collapse of two abusive relationships, and the constant challenge of providing stability on her own.

After moving from California to Arizona in search of a fresh start, the pandemic dealt another blow. Her hours were cut, and before long she was struggling to keep her home. Still, Rebecca never stopped fighting. From Krispy Kreme shifts to late-night Lyft driving, she did everything possible to provide for her girls and keep a roof over their heads.

When we learned about Rebecca through the Gradient Gives Back Foundation, her determination immediately stood out. She didn’t want a handout — she just needed a chance to get back on her feet.

In February 2021, we had the privilege of surprising Rebecca at our Mesa office with the news that we would be covering six months of her housing payments. Watching her realize she and her daughters could stay in their home was an unforgettable moment for all of us.

This experience reminded us why giving back matters. Life can change quickly, and sometimes the right support at the right moment can make all the difference. We’re grateful to have met Rebecca and her girls — and proud to be part of their story of resilience, hope, and renewal.

Brad Cooper

President | Founder

I’ll never forget the day I learned about money. I was a Police Officer, and a friend introduced me to what I now call: “Commonsense Money Principles.” You’d think I’d have been excited learning about how to manage money, but I wasn’t – I was angry.

I had all these questions flying around in my mind like:

“Why didn’t I learn this in school?”

“Shouldn’t our education system care about teaching financial principles?”

I came from a modest background, where people worked hard, and you married your high school sweetheart. I couldn’t stop thinking, “Someone needs to teach the average American how simple financial planning can be.” Turns out, God was calling ME to be that “someone.” So, I shifted careers and vowed to educate people on how simple financial planning can change their life.

For the first part of my career, the company I worked for was more focused on managing money than on education, so I kept feeling like I was not living up to part of my vow. That changed in 2006, when my brother Bruce died suddenly of a heart attack at age… 49. He was newly married and had diligently saved all his life so he could retire at 60 to “enjoy his life.” In my grief I thought, “Bruce sacrificed to reach his retirement goals; he planned and planned and planned— but he never actually lived his life.” I wondered, “What was the use of all that planning if he never enjoyed the fruits of his labor?” This realization weighed heavy on me. I immediately thought, “I want to teach people how to plan for the future while also living for today.” But to do that, I need to become a different kind of advisor. So, I started a full-service financial planning firm, centered on education. Soon after, I saw that no matter how much money people have, they are torn the way my brother was, between planning and living. But with the right guide and a bit of education it doesn’t have to be that way.That’s why for the past 16 years… I’ve created financial plans that not only provide my clients with guaranteed income for life…

But also, ample education… So, my clients will never again be so terrified of spending money that they never actually live their life. Nothing fulfills me more than seeing the relief and excitement on my clients’ face when they realize, “Wow, we really can have both.”

This is why I do what I do. And if we decide to work together, I’d love to show you how you can have both too.

Risk score | client login