A Story Passed Down

Some stories are written across generations that are passed down not just through words, but through shared values, experiences, and everyday moments that shape us. Ours began with a simple curiosity: watching my mother, Kimiko, building her life’s work into an empire....That same strive, curiosity eventually brought me to work alongside her.

The First Chapter

This photo was taken the first week I was born in my mother’s home office in New Jersey (10/18/1999)

While preparing to bring new life into the world, my mother was also laying the foundation down for her career in finance. Her journey began in 1998, a year before I was born. In that same year she became a financial advisor at Smith Barney in New York City which is considerably a bold move for a woman who had left everything in Tokyo with zero experience in stocks, but she had ambition and experience in other fields of work. My mom grew up doing a lot of “baito (part-time job in Japanese)” including fair share of “odd jobs.” One job that stood out to me the most was when she was working at a canned food factory. The clinking sounds of the cans is still engraved in her memory, but she always told me with this story that no matter how pointless you think canning up food is, even that experience still got her one step closer to pursuing the career she is in now.. Every job, every experience counts toward your goals.

How It Led Up to MGAM

My mom and I were always in sync in a way. We have moved across the nation from New Jersey, Florida, and to California. We were chasing growth, stability, sometimes just chasing for a sense of place. Although it was not easy making new friends or having to explain where I’m from every few years, moving taught me to adapt easily and find my sense of home anywhere I go. Taking that extra move to Japan in middle school, living with my grandparents, and then getting my bachelors degree in Japan shaped me the person I am now.

For me, Tokyo was where I started off my career, in public relations, working with luxury fashion brands. I was drawn to the storytelling of brands, the connections I was able to make, and the details of the work.

Reason For Change in Career

Just last year in 2024, I joined MGAM because I was in need of redirection. It felt like I was coming back home, literally. I was lacking purpose, stability, and something to feel deeply connected to. Last year was one of the most challenging years I ever had to face. Disconnected from myself. I had devoted years to a career I once idolized only to wake up feeling small/unsure/defeated. Thoughts like “maybe I’m not fit for this industry” or “I feel so incompetent” or “I am falling behind,” kept echoing louder in my head each day. I opened up to my mother and told the struggles I had on trying to adapt to the fast, brutal environment of the fashion industry. Bracing myself for her judgement, she actually told me the opposite of what I thought she would say. She didn’t tell me to tough it out nor gave advice from the top down. She simply gave me comforting words, reminding me that I did not have to stay somewhere that made me lose faith in myself. She reassured me that as long as I was immersing myself in various jobs and experiences, that is all that matters at the end of the day. I was ready for change.

Working With My Mother

People often ask, “What’s it like working with your mom?” And truthfully, it’s many things: inspiring, challenging, humbling, and grounding.

We bring different strengths to the table. My mother is the strategist who is thoughtful, precise, and deeply wise. I bring a lens shaped by communication, detail, and care, a perspective drawn from an industry where how you make people feel matters just as much as what you do. Together, we blend substance with style. Numbers with narrative. And there is something powerful about working alongside someone who knows your story and not just by your resume. That kind of trust I believe is special and it allows us to move quickly, speak honestly, and stay grounded with a shared vision.

But of course, it’s not always easy. We disagree…We challenge one another. There are moments where personal and business boundaries are crossed. But that’s true in any partnership worth having. The difference is, beneath every hard moment is a foundation of love, and a belief in what we’re building.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

I didn’t grow up around spreadsheets or stocks, but I grew up watching how deeply her clients trusted her. I saw how she helped them feel safe and seen in a world that’s often overwhelming with a lot of information. That left an impression on me even when I didn’t yet understand the work itself.

My mother showed me what it means to build something meaningful from the ground up. To lead with both intellect and intuition. To stay curious, and never stop growing. At MGAM, we help people protect what they’ve built, further nurturing what they’ve earned. We stand beside our clients as they navigate milestones, transitions, and the deeply personal decisions behind every financial choice. This is a business built on trust and especially empathy.

Now, I have the honor of helping write the next chapter. A chapter that, in many ways, began long before I ever joined the firm.

Thank You From The Bottom of Our Hearts

To our clients, our friends, and to those who’ve been with us from the very beginning: thank you. Whether you are just getting to know us or have been part of this journey for years, we are really grateful for all the paths we have crossed with you all!

From Mother To Daughter: What It’s Like Working in a Family-Run Business