Finance Advice with Lived Experience

About

I am Sandhya Gopal, CDFA®, Financial Advisor and Founder of SpendItRight.

I spent years building financial success in corporate leadership — but my biggest financial lessons came during and after my divorce.

Navigating asset division, emotional decisions, and rebuilding as a single mom taught me how vulnerable women can be during major life transitions.

That experience led me to become a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and launch my own fee-only financial advisory practice.

Today, I help women navigate financial crossroads such as divorce, income disruption, and career shifts using a mindset-aware, analytical approach that supports clear decision-making under pressure.

How I Built My Financial Foundation

My perspective is informed by lived experience building and managing multiple sources of income across different market cycles and life stages.

Over time, my portfolio has included:

  • Real Estate Investing, including property flips and a rental income portfolio

  • Equity Markets, through long-term investing as well as options-based and swing trading strategies

  • Small Business, through launching, growing and managing cash flow.

Each of these paths required different timelines, risk considerations, and levels of involvement. More importantly, they required learning how to make thoughtful financial decisions during periods of uncertainty — when income, identity, or stability were changing.

This experience informs how I advise clients today. I don’t promote one strategy or income path over another. Instead, I help clients think clearly about tradeoffs, timing, liquidity, and alignment with their current season of life.

My Corporate Background

I began my career as an engineer in the early 2000s and earned my Master’s in Finance during the 2008 financial crisis.

In 2010, I went on to build a global corporate career at Schlumberger, where I held leadership roles in integrated planning, forecasting, and global supply chain. My work involved complex financial modeling, multi-million-dollar budgets, and decision-making in uncertain, high-stakes environments.

I bring that same strategic discipline, scenario-based thinking, and risk awareness to personal financial planning — particularly when clients are navigating uncertainty rather than ideal conditions.

Education & Credentials

  • Series 65 Licensed Investment Adviser Representative

  • CDFA® (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst)

  • Master’s in Finance

  • Master’s in Industrial Engineering

  • CFP® Coursework – University of Georgia

Fee Only Financial Advisor for women.

Connect with me on LinkedIn