The Generational Gift of Resolve

From a refugee’s childhood to a career as a successful entrepreneur, Pa Lee’s inspiring journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Laos, Pa’s family risked everything to escape the destruction that the Vietnam War brought to many countries in Southeast Asia. Her family endured a treacherous ten-day journey out of the country on foot before crossing the dangerous Mekong River, where many tragically lost their lives trying flee the war to safety.

Thankfully, Pa and her family made it across, spending a few years among different refugee camps in Thailand before finally making it to the U.S., seeking the land of opportunity. Still, as a young girl in a new country, Pa faced the hardships of learning a new language and adapting to an unfamiliar culture — but despite the struggles, Pa’s determination never wavered.

Years later, after she and her husband, Danny, had built a life in Wisconsin, they found themselves working grueling hours just to make ends meet. Pa’s career in accounting was limited by stagnant wages, and she realized that to provide a better future for her family, something had to change. When she learned about First Financial Security (FFS), Pa saw a way to take control of her financial destiny, and she seized the opportunity with both hands.

With FFS, Pa found not only a career but also a mission: to ensure that financial literacy and generational wealth were available to people like her, not just those who were already affluent. Her work is helping to break barriers for families like hers — families that don’t traditionally have access to financial services, particularly in Laotian, Hmong and other Southeast Asian communities.

Pa’s journey is proof that hard work, resilience and the right opportunity can lead to incredible success. These days, Pa earns a successful living through running her financial services business, a far cry from the days when she and Danny struggled just to make ends meet. Her hard work is not only transforming her own life but also paving the way for more diverse families to build generational wealth through entrepreneurship and financial empowerment.