"All too often, we focus on perfection, but progress is important"
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Marguerita Cheng, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP pro) and the Founder of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. In this insightful conversation, Marguerita shares her passion for providing access to competent and ethical financial advice, transforming lives through strategic financial planning.
With a belief that everyone deserves clarity, confidence, and control over their financial lives, Marguerita embarked on a journey inspired by the book “Blue Ocean Strategy” by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne. This entrepreneurial vision led her to develop innovative solutions that address acute challenges in the financial industry.
At Blue Ocean Global Wealth, Marguerita separates financial planning and advice from investment management, ensuring that clients receive valuable guidance regardless of their investment amounts. Her biggest strength lies in the ability to engage and connect with a diverse audience, empowering individuals, families, and entrepreneurs to make rational decisions about their financial future.
Join us as we delve into Marguerita Cheng’s remarkable insights, learn about her approach to wealth management, and discover the transformative power of competent financial advice.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Marguerita Cheng: I’m a Certified Financial Planner (CFP pro) based in the DMV- that’s DC/Maryland/Virginia. I am the Founder of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. I believe that everyone deserves access to competent ethical financial advice and that financial planning transforms lives.
I studied East Asian Language & Literature and Finance. I help clients gain clarity, confidence and control over the financial lives. The book Blue Ocean Strategy, by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, inspired my entrepreneurial vision of developing innovative solutions to address these acute challenges.
The creators of Blue Oceans, surprisingly, do not use their competition as a benchmark. They follow a different strategic logic that Professors Kim and Mauborgne call value innovation, which is the foundation of a Blue Ocean strategy.
The mission of Blue Ocean Global Wealth is to help women, families and entrepreneurs plan and protect their money so that can make rational decisions about their finances. Blue Ocean Global Wealth empowers clients to have the confidence and clarity to take control of their financial future.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffett, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Marguerita Cheng: Our Blue Ocean strategy is expanding access of competent ethical financial advice. We separate financial planning and financial advice from investment management.
Yes, individuals do need to invest to reach their goals. Clients do not have to invest a minimum amount to receive financial advice. Our biggest strength is the ability to engage and connect a more diverse audience.
What advice do you wish you had received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Marguerita Cheng: When I first started my business journey, I may not have been as outward facing as I worked more in the business and opposed to working on the business.
I realized that it was important to share my journey because people do business with those they like and trust. When people feel a personal connection, they feel more comfortable.
I realized that being an introvert and empathetic were not weaknesses, they were my strength. I am a lifelong learner and have an uncanny ability to connect with other. I plan to focus more on the power of video and story telling.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Marguerita Cheng: I absolutely love reading. I am a member of the Next Big Idea Book Club. I would have to say Blue Ocean Strategy influenced me and inspired me to launch my independent advisory firm.
I also love “Give & Take” by Adam Grant. He and Susan Cain, Malcolm Gladwell & Daniel Pink created the “Next Big Idea Book Club”. We receive 2 books per quarter. “Give & Take” was also transformational. Right now, I am reading “Super Connector” by Scott Gerber & Ryan Paugh.
As an introvert, I found the concept of networking so intimidating & overwhelming. When I shifted my mindset that networking is really about connections and conversations that lead to collaboration, I realized that I could be successful. I love helping people and love connecting with others.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Marguerita Cheng: I have written “Wealth Management Rules” it is an e-Book. I would like to write a book on planning for the sandwich generation. I feel that it could be helpful because I would share insight from a personal & professional perspective.
I was running a business, caregiving for my 8 year old daughter & 80 year old dad who had Parkinson’s disease. I also had a middle school student & high school student. It wasn’t easy, but I feel like my stories can help others.
2020, 2021, and 2022 threw a lot of curve balls into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2023? What lessons have you learned and what advice would you share?
Marguerita Cheng: It is important to give yourself the time, resources and patience to try new things. It is also just as important to stop things that aren’t working for you.
All too often, we focus on perfection, but progress is important. Most definitely make the time for self-care- my older daughter is so wise when she told me, “Mommy-you can’t pour from an empty cup”.
I even wrote a blog post about the nuances of being selfless and selfish. I would also stress for not to let anything define success for you.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Marguerita Cheng: I am very introspective and perceptive. I really pay attention to non-verbal cues and listen with intent. I would love to be even better at reading people’s minds.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Marguerita Cheng for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Marguerita Cheng or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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