Community Champion: Aaron Cruz
Aaron Cruz’s passion for helping others recover from past mistakes and transform financial uncertainty into strategy and hope shines not only throughout his professional ventures, but in his personal life as well. Motivated by his own experience with personal finance challenges in his younger years, today Cruz has dedicated his efforts to meeting people where they are and helping them gain clarity and control over their financial futures.
When it comes to money management, Aaron Cruz has shown that people from all walks of life can come together to build a solid foundation of skills and planning. His volunteer work and personal dedication to serving the greater good underscore his role as a true community champion. Aaron’s financial wellness campaigns across Wyoming are highlighted by his compassion, relatability, inclusivity, and down-to-earth outlook – all personal qualities that he exhibits every day.
Personal Statement
Hi, I’m Aaron Cruz – a proud father, outdoor enthusiast, and financial consultant living in Sheridan, Wyoming. I spend my days on trails, coaching and playing sports, and staying involved in my community. I find balance in the moments that remind me of what’s important.
My journey into finance started with personal struggles as a young adult. Like many, I made mistakes and faced uncertainty about how to create stability. Those experiences ignited my passion for helping others gain clarity, confidence, and control over their finances.
Over the years, I’ve realized that financial stress isn’t just about numbers; it’s about emotions, relationships, and identity. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life when it comes to money. Looking back, I realize I’m exactly where I’m meant to be – right in the middle of helping people make sense of their financial lives. Regardless of circumstance, I meet people where they are and we build a plan together. I know what it takes to repair, build, and maintain a financial foundation strong enough to support life, goals, and peace of mind.
That’s why I founded Unbroken – to bring financial experience into treatment centers and support individuals navigating recovery. For more than seven years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching classes, building curriculum, and watching people transform not just their budgets, but their belief in what’s possible. Some of my most memorable moments include watching a client in recovery, once terrified to open his bills, proudly share that he had created his first savings plan. I’ve also walked alongside individuals transitioning from prison to rebuilding their lives – investing, starting families, even opening businesses. Those shifts weren’t just about money, they were about dignity, direction, and hope.
Beyond Unbroken, my experience as a financial consultant helps me bridge education with real-world planning. Over the past 15 years, I’ve guided individuals, business owners, and families through major life transitions – from building early financial foundations to managing retirement strategies and generational legacies. That perspective allows me to teach not just theory, but practical, lived strategies that help people create lasting stability and confidence.
Today, through both Unbroken and my financial planning practice, I help people create living financial strategies that evolve with their purpose. Serving with the NFEC allows me to bring this mission to a larger stage so that regardless of someone’s background – large or small – they know financial stability and empowerment are possible.
Community Champion: Aaron Cruz
Aaron Cruz demonstrates his alignment with the financial wellness mission and vision by his long-term experience as a professional financial consultant and through his lifelong service to communities in recovery and transition. His unflagging commitment to helping Wyomingites gain financial health is making a real difference.
By bringing people from all backgrounds and situations to the table, Aaron shows us every day how economic empowerment can be achieved through financial wellness. His hopeful and optimistic attitude is an inspiration to us all. On the Wyoming Council’s behalf, we extend him our sincerest gratitude.
