Alumna entrepreneur shapes financial landscapes outside the norm

Rianka Dorsainvil ’09 exemplifies Virginia Tech's motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), showcasing the impact of financial education and early financial planning. By equipping young professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to secure their financial futures, she is paving the way for a generation of empowered and financially savvy individuals.

She entered Virginia Tech as a math major but soon realized she wanted a major with more interpersonal interaction. After taking a personal finance class, Dorsainvil became eager to share her knowledge with friends and family and became their “go-to finance person.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and applied economics, she started her career at a small firm and later joined a larger financial investment firm. 

“I was working with clients who had to have at least $1 million in investable assets,” Dorsainvil said. 

Dorsainvil began seeing a need to equip millennials with the same tools and knowledge she provided to millionaires. 

“I was holding information hostage,” Dorsainvil said. “This information could change the financial trajectory of millennial professionals, and the generations after them. So, you tell me, because they haven't lived life long enough yet to amass this wealth, they must wait? This did not sit well with me.”

Dorsainvil debuted her blog, “The Golden Financial Nuggets,” in 2013 to empower millennials and young professionals with their finances.

The blog proved very successful, but Dorsainvil still wanted to do more to answer the needs of millennials and younger professionals.  

In 2015, she founded Your Greatest Contribution, a pioneering, 100-percent-virtual financial planning firm. It allowed clients across the nation to receive financial advice through video conferencing.

“After my first client, the company continued to grow,” Dorsainvil said. “I was finding success in a market I knew was not being filled.” 

Beyond individual success, Dorsainvil champions diversity in finance. Through the “2050 Trailblazers” education platform and podcast she created, she amplifies voices advocating for inclusivity in the industry, advocating for a future where minorities, LGBTQ+ populations, and women shape financial landscapes. 

Hiwote Getaneh ’10, a graduate of the College of Science, is an immigrant who has benefited from Dorsainvil's unique model of working with women, millennials, and minorities.

"She has been invaluable in teaching me how to put the proverbial oxygen mask on myself before putting it on everyone else," Getaneh said. "She has taught me how to think practically for the day-to-day while holding a clear and exciting vision of my financial future."

For the past eight years, Dorsainvil has been part of the CNBC Advisory Council, which consists of vetted financial advisors who are the go-to sources for CNBC reporters.

She was recently interviewed by Sharon Epperson, CNBC senior personal finance correspondent, about redefining what retirement means for the different generations working today. 

The mother of two is also a spokesperson for the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning as a part of their CFP® Pro Campaign, a campaign aimed at educating more women and minorities about the career of financial planning.

In 2020, her firm, Your Greatest Contribution, took a strategic turn by merging and creating a new firm. That partnership allowed her to deepen her commitment to providing personalized, cutting-edge financial solutions. In 2024, that firm dissolved and Dorsainvil relaunched Your Greatest Contribution, as YGC Wealth.

Harnessing AI in the finance world

Dorsainvil is a prime example of how AI tools are revolutionizing the way we work. By setting up automated processes including using AI to automate tasks like recording meetings, summarizing, and drafting follow-up emails, she has significantly optimized her time management. This means more time focused on her clients.

Having an early adoption spirit to technology, Dorsainvil has provided strategic feedback to early-stage AI firms who are developing custom AI tools specifically designed for financial planners. 

“Founders of companies are yearning for new and innovative technology tools they can build,” Dorsainvil said.

In August, Dorsainvil, along with women leaders from Google and The Boeing Company, dove into the topic of how AI is transforming our world of work at Virginia Tech's Women in Industry event. 

She continues to support her alma mater by speaking to professional and student groups, including the Commodity Investing by Students at Virginia Tech organization in November.

Financial advice for Hokies

Taking out student loans has a significant impact on post-graduation financial decisions. According to Dorsainvil, six months after graduating, students will need to start repaying these loans, alongside their rent, credit cards, utilities, and car payments. 

She emphasizes the significance of managing student loans wisely, highlighting that refund checks should be returned if unnecessary. 

In addition to prioritizing their finances, Dorsainvil encourages students to prioritize their healthcare and to have a will and power of attorney upon turning 18. 

She urges graduates to kickstart their retirement savings through employer-matched 401K contributions and building a reserve of emergency funds, starting with a minimum of $25 in monthly savings.