Matson Money Coaches Corner | Kim Trinh on her American Dream

Kim Trinh, who has been with Matson Money since 2019, and joined our coaching team in 2022, recently shared what the American Dream means to her and how she is fulfilling on her True Purpose for Money.

Her Story

The daughter of a Vietnam War Veteran and proud capitalist, Kim Trinh’s American Dream came to life at the age of 6 when her family immigrated to the United States in 1991. Trinh’s father was given political asylum through President Reagan’s Humanitarian Operation – a program designed to help former Vietnam War Veterans and re-education camp prisoners safely immigrate to the United States.1

Prior to the Vietnam War, during times of rebellion and poverty in Vietnam, the government confiscated land-owners property and redistributed it to others.2 Trinh’s grandfather lost everything. This experience created a pro-capitalism belief system in Trinh’s father that was later passed down to her. Her parents came to America because they believed there was no future for their family in Vietnam. They hustled and worked multiple jobs to succeed and create a better life for their family, a sacrifice that remains evident to Trinh today.

What is your True Purpose for Money?

KT: My true purpose for money is always evolving. It is to be a titan of possibility so that families live greatly and live passionately. At the end of the day, it’s about empowering people to live a great life and create a life worth living.

What is your American Dream?

KT: My American Dream is to leave a legacy for the next generation to be able to create anything they want and know that anything is possible. That’s what my parents did. They wanted a better life for us. They believed if you work hard enough and you have a dream and something worth fighting for, you should do that. I am a product of capitalism. That’s the only reason my parents came to America because they believed that anything can happen in America. I believe I am standing on the shoulders of giants and am really present that my parents gave up so much. It’s why I wanted to be a coach and lead the American Dream Experience. It’s an opportunity for everyone; A declaration of freedom and worth fighting for families and their financial futures.  

What inspired you to choose a profession in the financial industry?

KT: I kind of fell into the financial industry, it was never my intention. All I knew about Matson Money was it was transformation and was creating an opportunity for others to be free around their finances. I was immediately captured and knew I wanted to work there. I didn’t care what position it was in, I just wanted to be involved. I filled a couple of roles since starting with Matson Money in 2019 but I always loved the enrollment side of the coaching department. For me, coaching is what is needed for humanity. And that’s how I ended up in finance. It’s distinct for me.

Why is having a coach important?

KT: Left to our own devices, human beings can be irrational. There’s what matters and then there’s what we want, and sometimes what we want in the immediate moment is more important than what matters. That’s why you need a coach: You need someone who will listen from your commitment rather than your immediate wants. We are an instant gratification society, and we can be irrational and ridiculous. It’s a privilege to have someone coach you.

What is your version of the future that you are out to create for investors? For your Community? For the world?

KT: What I see for people is that Matson Money has become a household name; we are synonymous with freedom and purpose. This can spread like wildfire. When you speak to the heart of human beings and what we want for our family and friends, you can’t help but want to share it. Wealth is being distributed to the next generation at a rapid rate and many don’t know how to invest it. It’s happening fast and furious, so we must be just as fast and furious with spreading our message.

What is something you enjoy that might surprise people?

KT: I’m such a foodie. I love food and I am enthralled by experiences. I love everything from a hole-in-the wall to a Michelin-star restaurant because they are so distinct. But I miss home cooking most of all. Every Sunday my family used to have a family feast. The table would be loaded with food that just keeps coming.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

KT: I’m proud of being able to constantly challenge myself. It’s not about the accomplishment; It’s discovering and knowing myself as someone who is willing to face any challenge powerfully. In the past, there was always something to prove, but I transformed myself from always having to prove something to seeing myself as someone who is bold in the face of fear. I see myself as a reflection of others and I know that if I can do something, they can too. I’m challenging myself to believe that anything is possible, and I am living in that possibility.

What advice would you give to your younger self when it comes to money/investing?

KT: Invest early and be disciplined about contributing to it every month. You should leverage it when you’re young. The challenge is, you don’t always see the value in it when you’re young, but I would tell my younger self to invest consistently.

Who do you admire and why?

KT: My mom. As a female figure in leadership, she led through all sorts of triumphs, tribulations, and challenges. Growing up in Vietnam, my mom had no resources available to her. The house she grew up in was a shack with dirt floors; it was generational poverty. But she always made the best of what she had. My mom is such a hard worker, and she is fearless. She has only become stronger as I have seen her, and she will always do it with a great attitude. I like to think where I got my work ethic and optimism for life is from my mom. She’s the person who taught me that anything is possible.

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Disclosures:

1. Vietnamese Americans Subject Guide. Texas Tech University The Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive. Retrieved 30 August 2022 from https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/resources/vietnamese-american.php.

2. Conrad, David. Before It Is Too Late: Land Reform in South Vietnam, 1956-1968. Journal of American-East Asian Relations. March 12, 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2022 from https://brill.com/view/journals/jaer/21/1/article-p34_3.xml?language=en.

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