Strength in Numbers: A story about overcoming societal norms and achieving financial unity

By Louis Orazio II CFP ® CFA

A work of financial fiction, Strength in Numbers centers around the lives of three women as they overcome professional and personal challenges. While there is financial literacy sprinkled throughout the book, the story mainly addresses the emotional impact money has on a family and how to overcome fear and self-doubt. 

The story begins with Tony Positano, a financial planner, addressing the call of a concerned lottery winner. She has just three weeks to claim over three hundred million dollars and doesn’t want her husband involved. A year earlier, Kate Becker is struggling to accept that her twenty-seven-year marriage is most likely over. Determined to rebuild her life one piece at a time, Kate begins to take small steps forward on her own. Meanwhile, Rachel Becker has been on maternity leave for the past four weeks. When her husband agrees to stay home with the baby, she returns to her job as an actuary where new challenges await. But as she, Kate, and other women learn to manage their money and relationships through inevitable obstacles, none realize that life will eventually reward them in ways never imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665730624

Louis Orazio II CFP ® CFA

Louis Orazio, II is the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Orazio Financial Services. As a financial planner, he assists clients through personal and financial challenges including divorce, loss of spouse, retirement planning, college planning, and estate counseling.  He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, CFA Charterholder, and is licensed to discuss insurance and investment products. Louis lives in New Jersey with his family.

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Louis Orazio II, CFP®, CFA.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case

of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3060-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3061-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3062-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022917410

Archway Publishing rev. date: 1/13/2023

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

The Sullivan Family Tree

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

About the Author

Dedication

To the incredible women in my life

who continue to inspire me:

Arielle, Eliana, Jane, PattiAnn, and Christina.

Thank you for making me feel like I’ve always been enough.

Acknowledgements

This book was a labor of love and I’m proud it’s done. The journey from concept to print was not one I took alone. Along the way I was blessed with the support of friends and family. Among the positive comments and wishes for success, I must acknowledge those who profoundly influenced this book.

In 1991, my grandmother, Joan Orazio, aunt, Louise Mason, and father, Paul Orazio, began a company called Orazio Financial Services. Over the last 30 years, the client base expanded entirely out of referrals, including the children and grandchildren of our earliest clients. It’s not happenstance that I grew up around financial planners only to become one myself. Without the risk they took years ago, it’s highly unlikely I’d be in this field today.

Writing can be a solitary activity, but from time to time you need outside perspectives. My first readers were gracious with their time and thorough in their assessment of the story. The book went through several iterations, each one influenced by their feedback. Thank you PattiAnn, Paul, Christa, Arielle, Caragh, and Lori.

This work would not have come to fruition without the editing, graphic design, formatting, and marketing efforts of Archway Publishing. Thank you to the entire team for bringing my work to the page.

Lastly, it’s essential I separately acknowledge my wife, Arielle. Her support and candor throughout the writing of this book were crucial in helping me see it through to the end. Early on, I remarked that writing a book might be foolish since it wasn’t my forte. She immediately replied it wasn’t essential for the book to be amazing. The fact I wrote one was, by itself, amazing. Every author needs a muse, and she is definitely mine. Babe, I finally finished it!

Preface

Thank you for reading my book! It takes a lot to write a book—late nights, early mornings, countless cups of coffee. It’s a mountain to climb, for sure. The struggle is worthwhile, though, if one person’s life is bettered.

I am a financial planner, and I work directly with families to grow and protect their wealth. It’s an honor to work closely with so many people, educating and guiding them through life’s biggest financial decisions.

In my role I manage wealth, broker insurance policies, run projections for retirement and college planning, and counsel clients on estate plans. Beyond the data of finance, my attention recently has been drawn to a new area of finance: how the finances of women and men differ.

Today, we see women out graduating their male counterparts in undergraduate and graduate programs. We see more families with a breadwinning wife or mother. We see women outliving their male spouses and inheriting the family estate. We see women earning and controlling more money than ever before in history. In some cases, these trends are met with collaboration. In others, old social norms have become obstacles to progress.

The choice between career advancement or starting a family is especially unique to women since they, historically, are often faced with that choice. Outliving one’s spouse and managing an estate is more common among women given that they, on average, outlive men. Divorce affects women differently than men, especially if the woman is not the breadwinner. These issues arose during client meetings and have dramatically impacted my approach to financial planning and wealth management. Managing a portfolio of stocks is far easier than managing a divorce or the loss of one’s spouse. In my experience, a supportive husband or community can be the difference between feeling as though you’re barely getting by and feeling secure. Men and women partnering at work and in the home fosters not only security and dignity but economic prosperity as well. My firsthand accounts of these instances propelled me to write a book highlighting the need for men and women to become financial partners.

I am who I am today in large part because of the women in my life. My grandmother and aunt started our firm along with my father in 1991, when women in finance were a minority. My mother received her Ph. D in 1999 while keeping a job and raising two children. My wife continues to climb the corporate ladder and strive for academic and professional success. In each of these cases, their success was bolstered by supportive husbands who realized their spouse’s success was their success as well. Viewing women as financial partners should be important to every man interested in amplifying his family’s wealth.

Women, in my opinion, are the largest economic secret weapon our society has at its disposal. Not only have women proven they can lead companies, start-ups, and boardrooms, but they have helped propel our economy to higher levels of wealth and innovation. As women continue to increase their personal wealth and reshape our economic landscape, the social challenges they meet must be addressed. Their success is our success, and we must rise to this new occasion together. As a capitalist, this approach is without question the most prosperous. As a fellow human being, addressing the challenges faced by women is simply the most humane thing to do. Men and women working in concert, both at work and in the home, will always yield the highest results.

Social issues such as these are often best understood through drama. Therefore, what follows is a fictional story addressing social norms and the need for financial unity. I humbly thank you for reading this story. If you feel compelled to pass it along, it’s greatly appreciated.

Be well and best of luck in your financial endeavors.

—Louis Orazio, II

The Sullivan Family Tree

64799.png

Orazio Financial Services

4 Executive Blvd Suite 203

Suffern, New York 10901

845-368-4402

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services are separate from and not offered through Commonwealth.

The stories included involve fictional characters and do not constitute a recommendation as to the suitability of any investment for any person or persons having circumstances similar to those portrayed, and a financial advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Actual performance and results will vary.

All possible libel examples are completely fictitious and are used for narrative purposes. The individuals and their scenarios throughout this book are made up and do not correlate to any particular people.

The fees, expenses, and features of 529 plans can vary from state to state. These 529 plans involve investment risk, including the possible loss of funds. There is no guarantee that a college-funding goal will be met. In order to be federally tax-free, earnings must be used to pay for qualified higher-education expenses. The earnings portion of a nonqualified withdrawal will be subject to ordinary income tax at the recipient’s marginal rate and subject to a 10 percent penalty. By investing in a plan outside your state of residence, you may lose any state tax benefits. 529 plans are subject to enrollment, maintenance, and administration/management fees and expenses.

66202.png

Chapter 1

1 June 2023

Tony Positano’s office—5:00 p.m.

"T ony! Tony! Are you there?" a frightened voice echoed through the phone.

Yes, I’m here. Are you okay? Tony replied. He stood up the moment he heard the urgency in her voice. She was never this abrupt, so her tone alarmed him. Something was not right.

Tony, I don’t know what to do. I’m really overwhelmed.

Okay, take a breath. Walk me through what happened, and we’ll tackle it together.

I think my husband won the lottery, the voice whispered.

Tony Positano was a quiet and methodical planner. His days typically involved following the financial markets and the broad economy while conducting discovery and review meetings with clients. Planning consisted of analyzing retirement projections and insurance quotes with clients. It involved speaking with accountants when evaluating tax strategies or attorneys when discussing estate concerns. These were typical activities. This phone call, however, shoved everything he had learned aside. He was about to move into unusual territory.

As Tony stood next to his heavy cherrywood desk, he turned to face a wall of windows, where he saw the reflection of his own stocky, broad frame. He labored to the window and looked out over the parking lot adjacent to his office.

The New York Lottery? he replied.

Yes. I think I’m holding the winning ticket in my hand right now. Her voice quivered. Tony could hear her shaking through the phone.

Are you sure? Have you checked the website?

Yes, she replied. I think it’s right. Can you help me?

Tony rushed over to his laptop and brought up the New York Lottery site. He checked the recent winning numbers. Read off the numbers to me, he said.

Okay, 4, 16, 23, 31, 39. And 5 is the Mega Ball, the voice stammered.

Oh, this is a Mega Millions ticket? he asked, beginning to understand the severity of her concern. He scrolled down to the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing this past weekend.

WINNING NUMBERS: 1, 4, 14, 29, 49. MEGA BALL: 8.

Well, those numbers don’t match the recent drawing I’m seeing on the screen.

The voice on the phone became stern. Tony, this ticket is almost a year old. The drawing was on Father’s Day of last year.

Oh, last year, Tony replied. He quickly looked up the date for Father’s Day a year ago and then checked the website again for that date. As he reviewed the winning numbers from the Father’s Day drawing, his heart began to race. Can you read those numbers back to me one more time?

As she read the numbers one by one, they aligned exactly with what Tony saw on the screen.

Holy cow, he replied. You won the lottery.

My husband did. What does this mean?

Tony breathed out, gathering his thoughts. Well, for starters, lotto tickets are bearer instruments.

What does that mean?

It means regardless of who bought the ticket, the person holding it in their hand when they go to claim the winnings can claim it. Whoever bears the ticket gets the money. Since you’re the one holding it right now, you could cash it in.

Okay, so this doesn’t have to involve my husband at all? she questioned.

Not if you don’t want it to, Tony replied.

They both exhaled deeply.

Is it even still valid? the voice asked. It was purchased almost a year ago.

According to New York lotto rules, he replied, scrolling down the FAQ page, you have up to a year to claim the winnings. Tony tabbed over to his Outlook calendar and saw the date for Father’s Day this year. Which means you have almost three weeks to claim it.

How much are the winnings, Tony? she asked with bated breath.

Tony flipped back to the drawings page and checked the jackpot amount. Okay, since you got all five numbers and the gold Mega Ball, the winning jackpot on Father’s Day last year was … His voice trailed off. He could hear her breathing into the phone while she awaited his answer. It reminded him to continue breathing himself. Wow, he replied. It says the jackpot was $350 million.

That’s what I thought, she said. This is scaring the heck out of me, Tony. What do I do?

Okay, okay, Tony replied, standing up and returning to the window. Looking at the parking lot, he attempted to gather his thoughts. First things first, does anyone in your family know?

No. I haven’t told anyone.

Do you think your husband knew he’d won?

Absolutely not. He would’ve been quick to cash this in. I found it in his jacket pocket this morning. He got it at my family’s annual Father’s Day barbecue. We both completely forgot about it.

Gotcha. So, if I have this right, you’re holding a winning lottery ticket worth $350 million. You have three weeks to cash it in. Your husband acquired it and forgot about it, and no one in your family knows you have it?

Yes, yes. That’s right. That’s why I called you, Tony. I didn’t know who else to go to.

Here’s what you’re going to do. Put the ticket in an envelope and place it in your purse. It’s 5:00 p.m., and our office is closed right now, but come in tomorrow, and I’ll walk you through the forms you’ll need to fill out. We open at 9:00 a.m. Come in first thing.

I can do that. Thank you, Tony.

No problem. I’ll see you in the morning, Tony replied.

He hung up the phone and exhaled deeply. His blood was rushing, and his face became flushed. As a financial planner, he was trained to remain calm and act logically and objectively, and he had done just that with his client. But the news had shocked him. An influx of money that substantial would mean tax liability, estate planning concerns, and protection of her identity, especially given her situation. As he sat in his chair and placed his hands behind his head, his office door creaked open, and a short figure appeared in the glow of the doorway.

I’m heading home. Who was that on the phone? his assistant asked quietly.

Oh, you’re never gonna believe it. Sit down. We have a big day tomorrow.

66202.png

Chapter 2

One year earlier

June 2022

I t was over. Twenty-seven years later, it was over.

Kate Becker sat on the edge of her bed, rocking herself back and forth, hugging a pillow. It had ended just a moment ago. She was rocking to calm herself, as she always did when life became scary and uncertain. Her eyes were glassy, and her body shook as she processed the conversation from moments ago.

The house was quiet, eerily quiet. The silence was deafening. Their house had not been this silent in quite some time. Years ago, it had been filled with the sounds of a crying infant and the pitter-patter of little feet. Then had come piano lessons, pop music, and noisy preparations for camp, prom night, and graduation. Those had been the good noises, the fun noises.

Then there had been the yelling—year after year of yelling. Yelling about her in-laws and her parents. Yelling about money and their spending habits. Yelling about private or public school. Yelling that had filled the house and each of them with resentment and contempt, brewing and festering year after year. Those had been the bad noises, the sad noises.

But now it was quiet. No yelling. No cutting each other off. No talking over one another. No proving the other person wrong. Just silence.

At first it was the silence that shocked Kate, the silence in her home and the silence in her head. It was calming at first—a needed release from years of tension. She breathed out, knelt down on the floor, and lay on her side next to the bedroom window.

John had left the house moments earlier. He’d raced out of the driveway in his Ford Escape, eager to leave with a box of his belongings. He had packed the box in minutes and left just as quickly. His swift exit from her life had been sudden and abrupt. Yet as Kate lay on the floor, she acknowledged this moment wasn’t a surprise. This inevitable moment had been coming for a while.

It could’ve happened sooner, sure. It also could’ve been delayed for another year, or five, if the incident hadn’t happened. But it had happened, and it played over and over in Kate’s mind as she lay on her bedroom floor, warmed by the sunlight cascading through the open window.

What happens now?

Her hurried breath began to slow, and the longer she stayed curled in a ball, hugging her pillow, the more her body relaxed. She began to think about her mother, her sister, her family. What would they think? Kate was not the most successful one in the family. Always one step behind Margaret and Mike, she felt a continued urge to impress and garner attention. John had earned her that attention. And now he was gone.

This was such a failure.

How am I going to explain this to Mom and Margaret?

As Kate reflected on her loss, an overwhelming emotion filled her body and pulled her deeper toward the floor: shame.

As she rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling, she began to notice the silence of the home in a way she hadn’t before. The absence of noise left her free to do what she wanted—free to dress how she wanted, schedule her day how she wanted, watch the shows she wanted. This newfound freedom was what she had been missing for years. In some ways, she knew this freedom never would have come if John hadn’t left, if she hadn’t told him enough was enough.

In light of this, she sat up, glanced out the window, and searched for his car in the driveway. It wasn’t there. She then looked out to the road that stretched well beyond their neighborhood. No sign of John. He had really left. It was truly over.

What do I do now?

Kate’s phone beeped. As she stood and gathered herself, wiping tears from her cheeks, she looked at her phone and saw a text from her sister, Margaret.

Drinks tomorrow?

Kate let out a sigh. Drinks with her sister was exactly what she needed. But what would she say to her?

Sure! Kate texted in response.

As she walked around the bed and into the bathroom to freshen up, she began thinking about what her next move would be. It had been such a long time since she was alone.

As she entered the bathroom and placed her phone on the marble countertop, it buzzed with another message from Margaret:

Great! Can’t wait to hear what’s going on in your world.

Kate looked at herself in the mirror and noticed something was off. She had used this mirror every day during her marriage, yet today her reflection stunned her. Her expression today was a perfect blend of exhaustion, fear, and relief. It was the only time Kate had looked at herself in the mirror and failed to recognize herself completely. Something was different, and she didn’t know whether to be excited or scared about what was to come.

In this very moment, she was on her own.

Here, on this warm Sunday in June, staring into her bathroom mirror, she would begin to rebuild her life piece by piece.

66202.png

Chapter 3

R evolución was a Mexican cantina perched on the East River, overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. Its broad porch was inviting to many on the Lower East Side of Manhattan looking for a brief snack and a cocktail. Kate Becker had started coming here five years ago when she began working as a nurse practitioner at the children’s hospital up the road. Her life back then had been simpler and less stressful, but as the years had ebbed and flowed, the undulations of her marriage and her need to vent both had increased. Her sister Margaret Sullivan was her best shoulder to lean on. Always an avid listener and the biggest cheerleader for her sister, Margaret trekked into the city twice a month to offer comfort and support and nosh on half-priced apps.

Kate sat at their usual high-top in the corner of the porch overlooking the river. On this June afternoon the bright sun shimmered off the water, abated only by the large umbrella above Kate’s head. As she adjusted her purse hanging off the back of her chair, she saw Margaret meandering through the restaurant and onto the porch.

Margaret hugged her sister and sat across from Kate. Her demeanor was placid. Margaret was modest in her dress, never one to reveal too much skin. She opted for measured tones and flats instead of heels. Her shoulder-length curly hair was especially