A Midwest gal with a California soul, Robin Hanover, owner of Hanover Consulting, in Estero, loves to geek out on quantum physics, investment charts and creating butterfly gardens. The Columbus, Ohio native also loves using her analytical intuition, which serves her very well in the financial world of investment counseling in which she has been for more than 40 years. 

Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Hanover muses how she fit into the family mold when she established her babysitting empire at age 11, and seven years later began working her way through Ohio State University. Such ambition, tenacity and determination proved valuable in 1985 when she entered the male-dominated financial industry. “I was one of two females working as a stockbroker assistant in a brokerage firm,” says Hanover, whose early financial career was halted by the market crash of 1987 and her father’s illness with Type 1 juvenile diabetes.

Hanover spent the months following her father’s death preparing her childhood home for sale, shouldering her mother’s debilitating grief and assisting her in relocating to Hilton Head, North Carolina. As a result, Hanover’s health took a nosedive. “I hadn’t processed my grief, which was weighing heavily on me. I felt as if I’d aged 30 years. I knew I needed help. My doctor prescribed antidepressants, which allowed me to get out of bed and function again. The grief and medication left me 90 pounds overweight. I hired a personal trainer who helped me change my diet and exercise my way back to health and a new career,” she notes.

Hanover’s transformation inspired her to become a successful personal trainer. As her business expanded, her marriage imploded, resulting in divorce. She sold her wellness practice and home and moved to St. Helena, in Napa Valley, California, to be closer to her brother. As the only wellness coach in the heart of wine country, Hanover had a waiting list of clients. She also had a new love. “Rick Hanover, a well-known tennis pro and I joined forces to create Valley Tennis & Training,” she says.

In 2008, the market crashed again. In 2010, Hanover closed her wellness studio. “My own business financial advisor encouraged me to return to the financial world as women were needed. Despite the industry sexism, I worked as a financial advisor during the day and as a wellness coach evenings and weekends. I won several awards during my first year as an advisor and felt on the top of the world until my health began deteriorating again. While I looked fine, my body hurt. I felt as if I was walking through mud,” recalls Hanover.

Consulting an internist and a functional practitioner produced a shocking diagnosis—chronic recurring Epstein-Barr virus and RA-rheumatoid arthritis. “Despite my wellness training, I couldn’t 'fix' my condition because my mindset was causing the problem. My soul was begging for my brain to wake up and pay attention. It took another five years before I listened,” advises Hanover.

A riveting, 6.2 earthquake threw Hanover and her husband out of bed at 3:30 a.m. on August 24, 2014, devastating Napa and shaking the couple to their core. Recognizing the wakeup call to leave California, the couple moved to Estero. Rick took a tennis director position and Robbin continued providing financial advice remotely. 

"I needed a deeper healing," she says. "My body loved the warm, humid, Florida air and bathing in sunlight every day. The Gulf waters filled my soul. I’d found a new peace. I started listening to my higher self and my intuitive inner voice instead of my brain. I started meditating, walking daily in nature, and learned to hone my spiritual gifts. I discovered reiki, which had a profound impact on me. I loved the practice so much that I become a reiki practitioner.” 

"All my life experiences have led me to my life's calling, which is to help couples, individuals and entrepreneurs heal financially, physically and spiritually. While I’m foremost an analytical strategist, I speak the soul’s language and pose important questions that many financial advisors don’t feel comfortable asking. We are spiritual beings having a human experience, and when it comes to financial matters, it’s important to listen to what your soul is trying to tell you about your relationship with money, as well as your health and well-being,” enthuses Hanover. 

For more information, visit RobinHanover.com.