Abbie Danko’s path into financial advising is anything but typical. Just before graduating with degrees in psychology and religious studies, she faced the devastating loss of her mom—and made the brave decision not to dive into a full-time job right away. Instead, she gave herself the space to grieve and chart her own course.

Although her father, Brett Danko, is a well-known financial planning educator and firm founder, Abbie is determined to succeed on her own terms. Today, she’s in Merrill Lynch’s Advisor Development Program, building her career with intention while carrying forward her mom’s legacy of helping others.

In our conversation, Abbie shares:

• Why self-awareness matters more than “following the expected path”
• How her psychology background shapes her approach to advising
• The 3 powerful questions she asked mentors that shaped her journey
• What has surprised her about this industry
• Her passion for spreading awareness of financial planning as a rewarding career for women
• Why every advisor—and every person—needs a “hype person”