ABOUT

About Christopher Wilno

Founder of Money and Inspiration

Hi, I’m Christopher Wilno—and I’m here to help.

Money and Inspiration was born from two deeply personal places: a passion for financial literacy and a story of profound personal loss, resilience, and hope.

The Money Side

I’ve spent my entire professional life in finance. I started at KPMG, where I audited financial results for large companies, guided businesses through IPOs, and advised on mergers and acquisitions. From there, I moved into the private sector -holding senior finance roles, managing a billion-dollar consumer electronics portfolio as a Senior Director of Product Management at a public company, and today serving as CFO for a large private company. Along the way, I also became a licensed loan officer, helping families navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: buying a home.

But no matter where my career took me, I kept seeing one painful truth: far too many people (and companies for that matter) are struggling financially—not because they aren’t smart or capable, but because they are making all the wrong decisions.

That’s where this site comes in.

Whether you’re just getting started, trying to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, or planning for retirement, my goal is to break down personal finance in real, relatable terms. If my kids and their friends don’t know this stuff, I know there are plenty of others who don’t either—and it’s too important to ignore.

The Inspiration Side

My journey took a turn in 2003 when my family and I endured a series of hardships that changed my life forever.

It began when my dad was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2003. He fought courageously for 15 months, but ultimately lost his battle. Around that same time, on August 1, 2003, just one day before her official due date, our daughter Isabella passed away at birth. To this day, it remains the worst day of my life—and I can only hope nothing ever surpasses it.

Shortly after my father’s passing, my wife became pregnant again. But in August 2004, on my birthday, she was diagnosed with cancer while carrying our son, Jaden. Thankfully, she beat the disease that first time, and even when it returned five years later, Jaden was born a healthy boy.

That chapter of my life could have broken me. Instead, it shaped me.

It’s why I began raising money for cancer research through endurance sports—running many marathons, one 50-mile ultra marathon, and five Ironman triathlons. It’s why I coached others to train for marathons while fundraising. And it’s why I continue to share my story: because through unimaginable loss, I found strength, purpose, and community.

I learned that blessings can come from the worst of times—a mantra I live by. And today, I want to be a voice of hope for anyone who feels lost, showing that even in the hardest moments, there’s a way forward.

Why “Money and Inspiration”?

At first, this site was going to be called Your Financial Strength, but I quickly realized that what I want to offer goes beyond budgets and credit scores. I want to inspire. I want to encourage. I want to share hard-earned lessons and real-life experiences—successes and failures—so that maybe, just maybe, you can avoid a few of the same mistakes.

If I can help you get smarter about your money and stronger in your spirit, then this is all worth it.

And if this site ever generates income, I’ve made a commitment to donate at least 10% of all profits to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society—because that’s personal.

Whatever brought you here—whether it’s financial confusion or a need for hope—welcome. You’re not alone.

Let’s build something better—together.