why Higher Groud FSYour Guide to Financial Confidence
I've always believed that with the right guidance and strategy, any goal becomes achievable. As the founder of Higher Ground Financial Services, I help families build financial foundations that last generations and prepare the next generation to become good financial stewards.
In my early twenties, I traveled the world as a Princeton-in-Asia Fellow, speaking Mandarin in China, trekking through Tibet, and backpacking through Brazil's mountains all on my own dime. Each adventure required careful financial planning and constant adaptation as new information came in. Those experiences still shape how I work with clients today: evaluate the options, weigh the trade-offs, and adjust as life unfolds.
My clients often tell me I have a gift for explaining complex financial concepts in ways that actually make sense. As one of only 3.5% of financial advisors who are women of color, I understand what it means to navigate systems that weren't designed with you in mind.
Monique Castillo
Financial Advisor
After graduating from Johns Hopkins University, I've spent over 17 years in financial services. I hold Series 7 and 66 securities registrations, the latter allows me to serve as a fiduciary when acting as an Investment Adviser Representative, meaning your best interests come first, always. I'm also licensed for life, health, accident, and long-term care insurance, so I can provide holistic financial guidance that addresses both opportunity and risk.
Over the years, clients started asking me to help their family members understand the basics. That led me to create educational toolkits designed to build financial literacy across generations because wealth building doesn't stop with one person.
I believe strongly in the power of community. For a decade, I gave free financial workshops at my local community college's People in Transition Center for those navigating bereavement and divorce. My Johns Hopkins University alumni association has invited me back multiple times to lead financial seminars and webinars.
I also served as a Board Member and Chapter Leader for a nonprofit supporting families with loved ones on the autism spectrum, bringing together people from all walks of life united by one goal: helping their loved ones live their best lives while achieving the same for themselves. That work deepened my capacity for empathy and advocacy, which strengthens how I serve my clients today.
I'm a regular speaker at financial education events and an advocate for inclusive planning. Most recently, I've been hosting workshops for women of color and first-generation professionals who are building wealth in spaces that weren't designed with them in mind.
Registered in: CA, DE, GA, IL, ME, MD, MA, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, and DC