Dr. Cozette White
Wealth Strategist
By Rodney Wayne Branche
Copa: Where are you from?
Cozette: I am originally from Los Angeles, California, right now I currently reside in a small city called Oxnard which is about an hour away from the Los Angeles area.
Cozette: I am originally from Los Angeles, California, right now I currently reside in a small city called Oxnard which is about an hour away from the Los Angeles area.
Did you attend school there?
Cozette: I attended Banning High School in Wilmington, California. I loved High School, let me just put it like that.
Cozette: I attended Banning High School in Wilmington, California. I loved High School, let me just put it like that.
Copa: What were some of your interests there?
Cozette: Good question Rodney, I was very active in back in my High School. I was in Student Leadership, Upward Bound and many other organizations. I loved being active with student related activities. I was that way from the beginning to when I graduated. My first year I was In Drill Team, the next year a Cheerleader. I was also Homecoming Princess, Jr. Princess...just very active!
Cozette: Good question Rodney, I was very active in back in my High School. I was in Student Leadership, Upward Bound and many other organizations. I loved being active with student related activities. I was that way from the beginning to when I graduated. My first year I was In Drill Team, the next year a Cheerleader. I was also Homecoming Princess, Jr. Princess...just very active!
Copa: Were you on the Dean's List at any time?
Cozette: To be honest, I was never even on the Honor Roll. Now that I think about it I only think my grade point average in High School was only a 3.0 or so.
Cozette: To be honest, I was never even on the Honor Roll. Now that I think about it I only think my grade point average in High School was only a 3.0 or so.
Copa: Let's talk about college, what school have you attended?
Cozette: I started out at Long Beach City College, I completed my first 2 years there. I moved on to Cal State Dominguez Hills where I majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. From there I took about 3 years off and returned to school to finish my Masters Degree in 2 years. I attained that from the University of La Verne which is also in California as well.
Cozette: I started out at Long Beach City College, I completed my first 2 years there. I moved on to Cal State Dominguez Hills where I majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. From there I took about 3 years off and returned to school to finish my Masters Degree in 2 years. I attained that from the University of La Verne which is also in California as well.
Copa: Why Finance?
Cozette: When I was in the 11th grade in High School I was at a point where I needed to figure what I wanted to do for College. I remember taking an aptitude test, it gave me a few options that I could actually fall into as an adult. Most people take those tests and they end up shifting from A, B, C to D. I was the one who decided to stick with A. I took a High School Accounting with Mrs. Paramore, she was truly my Mentor. She took my by my arm and showed me the steps to follow to get things done. One thing I want to share with you that we haven't discussed...both of my parents were deceased at this particular time in my life. My Mom passed away at the age of 5 and my Dad passed away later in life...they were both murdered. To have this teacher take me under her wing was something really awesome, we don't see that in today's schools right now. We don't see too many teachers taking our youth under their wing and guiding students, guiding them and taking them through. We have kids that are lost. Many don't have that guidance at home maybe they have both parents, maybe they have one.
Cozette: When I was in the 11th grade in High School I was at a point where I needed to figure what I wanted to do for College. I remember taking an aptitude test, it gave me a few options that I could actually fall into as an adult. Most people take those tests and they end up shifting from A, B, C to D. I was the one who decided to stick with A. I took a High School Accounting with Mrs. Paramore, she was truly my Mentor. She took my by my arm and showed me the steps to follow to get things done. One thing I want to share with you that we haven't discussed...both of my parents were deceased at this particular time in my life. My Mom passed away at the age of 5 and my Dad passed away later in life...they were both murdered. To have this teacher take me under her wing was something really awesome, we don't see that in today's schools right now. We don't see too many teachers taking our youth under their wing and guiding students, guiding them and taking them through. We have kids that are lost. Many don't have that guidance at home maybe they have both parents, maybe they have one.
Copa: What was your first job?
Cozette: My first job was at Unical straight out of College, I was hired as a Staff Accountant. I remember clearly getting the job from a campus interview so after a week I was working full-time.
Cozette: My first job was at Unical straight out of College, I was hired as a Staff Accountant. I remember clearly getting the job from a campus interview so after a week I was working full-time.
Copa: At what time did you muster the courage to strike out on your own to become an Entrepreneur?
Cozette: My Grandmother's guidance and wisdom was preparing me for the future. I recall taking a Taxation class in college, it was on of the courses that had started me on this journey that has taken me right now. I started to complete tax forms for friends and I was pretty good at it. More people continued to come to me. I was not sure if I wanted to continue doing taxes so I stopped for about 3 years. Many of my friends were suggesting that I start an actual tax preparation business. So while I was working a full time job I would prepared taxes and worked hard at it and business grew. One day I entered my full-time job and clocked in. I was wearing a pair of 4 inch heels and Capris and was called into the Human Resources office. I was informed that I was not complient with the company's dress code and was asked to sign a few forms. For the next 4 days I called in sick. Later I received a call from my employer asking if I intended to return to work, I informed them that I would not be coming back
Cozette: My Grandmother's guidance and wisdom was preparing me for the future. I recall taking a Taxation class in college, it was on of the courses that had started me on this journey that has taken me right now. I started to complete tax forms for friends and I was pretty good at it. More people continued to come to me. I was not sure if I wanted to continue doing taxes so I stopped for about 3 years. Many of my friends were suggesting that I start an actual tax preparation business. So while I was working a full time job I would prepared taxes and worked hard at it and business grew. One day I entered my full-time job and clocked in. I was wearing a pair of 4 inch heels and Capris and was called into the Human Resources office. I was informed that I was not complient with the company's dress code and was asked to sign a few forms. For the next 4 days I called in sick. Later I received a call from my employer asking if I intended to return to work, I informed them that I would not be coming back