About
Financial literacy can open doors many of us didn’t think were possible.
(or Karo for short) and I’m the founder of Kapitalize With Karo.
I’m a first-gen Latina financial educator from Ecuador who didn’t grow up learning how money works. Like a lot of people, especially in first-gen and low-income households, finances were something you dealt with as they came up, not something you were taught to understand.
I didn’t start learning about personal finance until my mid-twenties.
Once I did, I realized how much clarity comes from simply understanding how money systems work and how small, informed decisions add up over time.
That experience shapes everything I do today.
As I learned more about money, I was able to save intentionally ($72k by 27), buy my first home by 28, and prioritize travel (25+ countries), all while earning less than six figures.
I share this to show what’s possible when you understand how money works and can make decisions with intention.
How my background shows up in my work
Before working in financial education, I earned my Master’s in Education and spent nine years as an elementary school teacher. During that time, I gained hands-on experience teaching and breaking complex topics down in an easy-to-understand way, which now guides my work in financial literacy.
I bring that same approach into money education.
Whether I’m leading a workshop or working with someone one-on-one, I focus on making financial topics easier to understand and more connected to real life. I don’t assume prior knowledge, and I take the time to explain things in a way that actually makes sense.
What I do as a First-Gen Financial Educator
My work centers on real-life money situations.
I support college students, employees, and individuals who want to better understand their finances, make sense of their options, and feel more confident managing money day to day.
Through workshops and one-on-one support, I share practical strategies and help people apply what they’re learning right away, so they know what to focus on next.
I also create digital tools, like Google Sheets, templates, courses, and planners, to help people organize their finances in a way that feels manageable and actually useful. Many of these tools are automated to handle the repetitive parts, so you can spend less time tracking and more time understanding your money.
Over the years, this work has reached thousands of students across the U.S. through workshops and supported individuals navigating job changes, big goals, and everyday money decisions with one-on-one support and digital tools.
If you’ve ever thought, “I just wish someone explained this clearly,” that’s what I’m here for.
I bring a first-gen perspective into everything I do.
That means acknowledging the real barriers people face, from limited access to financial education, to family responsibilities, to navigating systems that weren’t designed with us in mind.
I don’t tell people what they should do with their money.
I teach them how money works, so they can make informed decisions that fit their own lives.
Want to Connect?
I’d love to connect and talk through ways we could work together, whether that’s a virtual or in-person workshop, a speaking engagement, or another collaboration.
If you have an idea in mind or want to see if it’s a good fit, feel free to schedule a chat.
FREEBIE!
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