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Nancy Alvarado-Hazelton is on a mission to make conversations about money less intimidating and more empowering for Latino business owners. As a Business Access Advisor at U.S. Bank, she spends her days in the community helping entrepreneurs move from “working hard” to also “working smart” with the right financial tools and support.

HWP: Please tell us about your current role and how long you have been in financial services. What do you enjoy most about your work?

Alvarado-Hazelton: I am a Business Access Advisor at U.S. Bank, where I have worked for 14 years. I’m originally from Peru and moved to the United States when I was 12, which is why economic empowerment including helping entrepreneurs and business owners build long-term financial stability and opportunity is deeply personal to me. In my day‑to‑day work, I partner with internal business bankers and external organizations like Community Development Financial Institutions and nonprofits to “connect the dots” so business owners can access the knowledge, capital, and relationships they need to grow.

HWP: What traditional wealth-building or wealth-management advice do you believe needs to be rethought for the next generation?

Alvarado-Hazelton: I grew up with a belief that if you work hard, “God provides,” which reflects how many of our abuelos and abuelas approached money. Over time, especially working in branch banking, I realized that living paycheck to paycheck and not fully understanding the economic opportunities available is a national challenge, not just a family issue. Today, we need a mindset shift: hard work is a given in our communities, but we also have to “look up,” pause, and ask what tools and options can help our money work for us instead of only working for our money.

For business owners, that means taking time to understand their financial position, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions so their money and their business can work more effectively for them over time.

HWP: How do you explain complex financial strategies to first-generation investors or new business owners?

Alvarado-Hazelton: I always start by meeting people where they are—truly understanding what they already know, what they feel, and what they are ready to absorb. From there, I use workshops and one‑on‑one conversations to break down basics like profit and loss statements and balance sheets into practical tools that tell the story of their hard work on paper, so they can qualify for grants, loans, and other opportunities. At U.S. Bank, I rely on resources like U.S. Bank Business Resources Central, a business owner education website, which is open even to non‑customers, and tools like the Hello Alice self‑assessment to give business owners structured, step‑by‑step guidance they can work through at their own pace.

HWP: Money can be intimidating. How do you help people feel more comfortable engaging in these conversations?

Alvarado-Hazelton: Most people don’t like talking about money; it can feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, and even shameful. My goal is not to make every money conversation “comfortable,” but to create spaces where people feel safe being uncomfortable as they go through the learning process. When business owners begin to understand their numbers and see that they can follow the steps, it becomes one of the most empowering feelings they can have, because it directly connects to their dreams, their families, and their sense of dignity.

HWP: Can you share an episode or experience that reminded you you’re in the right place and making a difference?

Alvarado-Hazelton: There have been many moments when business owners come in “going through it,” overwhelmed and unsure, and then you see them pull out a notebook and say, “Let’s do this.” We walk through their numbers, leverage available tools, and map out how they can qualify for loans, access grants, or tap into community partners they didn’t even know existed. Watching them move from anxiety to action—and realizing they are not just supporting their own families but also the families of their employees—is a powerful reminder of the responsibility and privilege of this work.

HWP: In your view, what role should wealth advisors play in closing wealth gaps, particularly for Latinos?

Alvarado-Hazelton: I think advisors need to truly lean in—with openness, humility, and curiosity—because it is not enough to simply provide generic advice. There are profound cultural realities around how we manage money. At U.S. Bank, initiatives like Access Wealth are designed to help people better understand the financial behaviors and decisions that can support long-term wealth creation.

HWP: What are some of U.S. Bank’s key initiatives around wealth building?

Alvarado-Hazelton: Through my role, I see how tools like the Business Resources Central, financial workshops, and partnerships with CDFIs and nonprofits all work together to support business owners at every stage of their journey. Programs such as Access Wealth are designed to help communities translate income into long‑term wealth by addressing practical financial challenges and everyday habits around money. The focus is on blending digital resources with human guidance so that busy entrepreneurs can get help both online and in person, whenever they are ready.

These efforts are designed to support long-term growth and financial stability at every stage.

HWP: What would your message be to young Latinos starting their wealth-creation journeys and careers?

Alvarado-Hazelton: Ask a lot of questions—there truly are no “dumb” questions when it comes to your money and your future. I encourage young people to “interview” the people they want to do business with, whether advisors or mentors, to make sure they understand the beautiful complexities of their lives, including contributing at home while building a career. Follow your gut: if someone doesn’t respect or understand those realities, they may not be the right partner, and you deserve to find someone who does. Take the time to find people who understand your goals and can help you build a path toward long-term financial growth.

HWP: Looking back, what do you wish you had known earlier in your career?

Alvarado-Hazelton: For a long time, I believed that if I kept my head down, worked hard, and stayed focused, people would notice and carry me to the next step. After 16 years in the financial industry, I’ve learned the importance of trusting myself, working not just hard but also smart, and being strategic about sponsors and key relationships in the spaces I occupy. Community has been essential for that, especially organizations like Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, where leaders like Cid Wilson and a cohort of fellow young Hispanic corporate achievers supported me in my journey of connecting the dots and seeing new possibilities.

HWP: How do you define wealth?

Alvarado-Hazelton: For me, wealth is not a specific number; it is about how financially stable you feel at any given point in your journey. Life will always “get in the way,” but if you have different buckets—savings, investments, reserves—that give you breathing room, you can make decisions from a healthier emotional place instead of from pure survival. As a mother of two boys, wealth also means having the time, health, and resources to support their futures and create a legacy that goes beyond me.

HWP: How would you like your wealth legacy to be remembered?

Alvarado-Hazelton: I don’t spend much time thinking about how I personally will be remembered; instead, I think about whether I’ve made a meaningful impact in people’s lives. If sharing information, connecting people to resources, and standing beside them in vulnerable moments helps them feel more empowered in their vision, their life, and their wealth, that means more to me than anything else. I hope that, in the end, people see me as someone who consistently pushed them to empower themselves and supported them in their journeys.

Disclosure: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.

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