Patricia R.
Title: Author & Chief Operating Officer
Financial Services and Wealth Management
Education: J.D., Brooklyn Law School
New York, NY, USA
Biography
As a first-generation college goer from a very low-income family headed by a single mom in poor health, Patricia Roberts considers the attainment of higher education as THE reason she was able to lift herself, her mom and siblings out of poverty and she is determined to help others achieve it with as little student loan debt as possible. Over the past 24 years, Patricia has helped tens of thousands of families avoid millions of dollars in student loan debt by sharing her expertise about planning ahead for higher education expenses and making smart decisions in the college search process. She is author of Route 529: A Parent’s Guide to Saving for College and Career Training with 529 Plans, a book she wrote with some extra time on her hands during the pandemic to help educate and inspire even more parents.
Patricia held key legal and product management roles in the investment management/education savings divisions at Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and AllianceBernstein Investments and she designed and launched philanthropic programs, like NYC Kids RISE, through which families receive seed money for their children’s college savings accounts along with valuable financial education and incentives to save on their own.
In her current role as Chief Operating Officer at Gift of College, Inc., she encourages employers to help reduce employee stress associated with the high cost of higher education by offering matching contributions to 529 college savings plans as a financial wellness benefit. She also educates employers on how they can offer tax-free student loan assistance for employees thanks to some changes in late 2020 and educates them as well about the valuable role 529 ABLE plans can play for employees with disabilities or those, like herself, who have loved ones with disabilities.
Passion
Patricia is passionate about empowering women, families and the disabled achieve financial wellness. She is particularly passionate about helping those who may have a more challenging time getting and staying on track in pursuit of higher education.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions
Topics
Best Story
As a brand-new parent struggling to repay over $100,000 in student loan debt that I and my husband had accumulated (as first-generation college goers from low-income families), when my son arrived, I was absolutely determined to make sure he would have a less financially stressful academic experience when he grew up. Having learned about 529 plans through my work, I began saving a little at a time from each paycheck as soon as I returned from maternity leave and 22 years later in June 2021, I proudly celebrated my son's debt-free graduation from college (Clark University in Worcester, MA).
Origin Story
My high school guidance counselor suggested I stick with my waitressing job rather than pursue higher education because of the fragile state of my family and the cost of college being out of reach. Having disregarded that advice and obtained my undergraduate and law degree while working multiple jobs, I have a tremendous appreciation for the value of higher education. I am extremely proud to have been able to purchase a home for my mom and disabled brother as a result of the many doors post-secondary education helped me to open in terms of career opportunities. Becoming educated enabled me to return empowered and able to assist my family in a meaningful way. Having lost our home when I was a child, it brought me such joy to be able to see my family in a safe and comfortable home as a result of my efforts.