We are Candy and Fernando, immigrants from the Dominican Republic who came to the United States to pursue higher education. Our path hasn’t been easy—it’s been one of determination, sacrifice, and ultimately, the triumph of strategic planning and purposeful living.
The Early Years: Degrees and Debt
Fernando graduated from Penn State with a Computer Science degree in 2015, starting his career but also carrying over $70,000 in student loans. Living alone in the U.S., his debt grew with auto loans and credit cards, surpassing $100,000.
Candy arrived in the U.S. in 2017 for graduate studies, fortunate to receive scholarships that prevented student loan debt. Due to visa requirements, she returned to the Dominican Republic in 2018, continuing to work remotely. From 2018 to 2021, extended visits to the U.S. were possible, but Candy’s income was based in the Dominican Republic and could not cover expenses in the U.S.
The Turning Point
In January 2018—before getting married in 2019—we created a strategic debt payoff plan. Through discipline and consistency, we eliminated more than $100,000 in debt by August 2020. This was achieved while Fernando managed all his living costs and we navigated major life changes, proving the power of intentional money management.
When Candy moved permanently to the U.S. in 2022, she faced more than six months of unemployment. During that time, Fernando’s prior debt payoff and strong savings allowed him to support us without financial strain.
Lessons Learned
We experimented with real estate investing but realized it didn’t align with our vision of Designed Financial Freedom. We sold both properties and focused on what matters most: investing for retirement, building experiences we love, and intentionally spending where it brings the most joy—especially on travel.
Why We're Here
Our journey from six figures of debt to financial freedom has inspired us to help others. We launched this program to show that with the right strategies and values, anyone can design their own version of financial freedom.
