I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Lori Van Dusen shares the roller coaster that was her rise in the world of Wall Street in the memoir “Running with Grace”.

The Synopsis

Nothing about Lori Van Dusen’s childhood indicated she’d become one of the nation’s top independent financial advisors. She was born prematurely with a genetic blood disorder. Her parents divorced when she and her twin brother were less than a year old. But her big, boisterous, loving Italian family, led by her beloved grandfather, a first-generation American with only an eighth-grade education, taught her that the only limitations in life are those we impose on ourselves.

As a young person, Lori wanted to sing on Broadway, not manage money on Wall Street. But in 1986, this quiet, serious young woman walked into the rough-and-tumble, eat-what-you-kill world of Shearson Lehman Brothers and never looked back. She fought her way to the top by thinking outside the box and working her ass off despite the jeers, insults, and sideways glances. Her secret weapon? A need to prove herself so strong she could outwork anyone.

But Lori’s trajectory to the top was not a straight, upward line; it was a rollercoaster. She hit the pinnacle of success only to have it ripped away in a legal battle with one of the biggest banks in the world. She was raped by a PhD candidate at Harvard, swindled by a business partner, and battled two life-altering medical diagnoses. None of that, though, would compare to having the two people she loved most in the world taken way too soon.

Despite the fear and pain, Lori remained hopeful and resilient. In this memorable, poignant, and inspiring memoir, she shares her lowest lows and highest highs as well as hard-earned wisdom from her bumpy personal, professional, and spiritual journey. Life was never meant to be fair, she learned, but we must keep running with grace if we are to find purpose and joy in the face of adversity.

The Review

This was a moving and compelling read. The author did an incredible job of layering this narrative and true story with a healthy balance of drama and heart. The author’s personal tale brought the detailed aspects of the financial industry to life, and her experiences while making her way up the corporate ladder were insightful and engaging.

Yet, it was the heart that was poured into this narrative that made the story so gripping. The memoir proved to be more about the trials and tribulations that the author faced both in their personal and professional life rather than a linear tale of the world of Wall Street, and this allowed the reader to connect and fully feel the emotional weight of the author’s life experiences. The tension and heartbreak the author’s life touches upon and how she overcame tragedy to become the person she is today send a sad yet uplifting message that readers can resonate with powerfully.

The Verdict

Remarkable, insightful, and engaging author Lori Van Dusen’s “Running with Grace” is a must-read memoir and business book. The heartfelt delivery of such a personal story and its impact on the author’s life and readers looking to make their mark in the world will keep people invested in this thoughtful and heartening read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Lori Van Dusen, CIMA®, is the Founder and CEO of LVW Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm that serves both wealthy families and individuals, as well as nonprofit institutions throughout the United States. An advocate of client-focused strategies for more than 25 years, she has become the voice of reason for providing comprehensive integrated solutions in a fragmented financial services industry.

Lori began her investment advisory career in 1987 with Shearson Lehman Brothers, which was later acquired by Citigroup Smith Barney. By 2004, she had achieved the title of Managing Director with Citigroup Smith Barney. She founded LVW Advisors in 2011.

A recipient of numerous accolades, Lori was named to Barron’s Financial Advisor Hall of Fame, which recognizes advisors who have appeared in 10 or more of Barron’s annual Top 100 Advisor rankings. Additionally, Lori was ranked #1 in New York – NY State on Forbes’ 2023 and 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list, and has been ranked for five consecutive years on Forbes’ America’s Top Wealth Advisors list and Forbes’ America’s Top Women Advisors lists. In 2022, she was named CEO of the Year by Institutional Investor’s RIA Intel.

In recognition of her involvement in the Rochester community, Lori was recognized in the Rochester Business Journal’s 2023, 2022, and 2021 Power 100 list and received the 2020 Women of Excellence distinction with the Circle of Excellence honor. The Circle of Excellence recognizes a small group of women each year with longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women. Additionally, Lori was inducted into the 2019 Rochester Business Hall of Fame and joins a prestigious list of Rochester business leaders who have been previously inducted. Lori has also been recognized by the Girl Scouts of Western New York as one of the 2019 Women of Distinction.

Lori is passionate about numerous philanthropic causes, serving on several boards focused on urban education, health and wellness and the fine arts, including the Monroe Community College Foundation Board, the University of Rochester Medical Center Board, the F.F. Thompson Health System Board, and the Memorial Art Gallery Board of Managers.

Lori was one of the founders of the Association of Professional Investment Consultants (APIC) and Citigroup Institutional Consulting. She holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation, administered by the Investments and Wealth Institute® (formerly IMCA) in conjunction with The Wharton School. Lori received her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Education from Harvard University.

Lori is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book Running with Grace: A Wall Street Insider’s Path to True Leadership, a Purposeful Life, and Joy in the Face of Adversity, published in 2023.

A native of Rochester, New York, Lori is a long-distance runner and an avid yogi, and enjoys decorating and savoring the area’s local music scene. She regularly cooks and hosts large Italian meals for her family and friends.

No compensation was paid to obtain the above awards. LVW Advisors paid a fee for promotional materials related to Forbes and Barron’s awards. Please see our Disclosures page for additional information.

Interview with Author Lori Van Dusen

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I’ve always had a connection to the page.  I believe writing regularly helps me be more creative and also helps flesh out ideas. I’ve been writing regularly since university.  I’ve contributed a number of white papers to my industry journals, write out every speech I’ve ever delivered and  journal daily as a way to relieve stress and organize my thoughts.  I will admit though, I’d never considered myself a writer with a capital W, and certainly never appreciated how hard it was to write a book.

2) What inspired you to write your book, Running with Grace?

I began writing Running with Grace as a personal journal to help with my healing process from the unexpected loss of my husband.  When I lost my mom, just a short time later, I wished she had captured her life story for me before she passed away from cancer.  I miss her every day, and thought if I had her with me on the page, it would be such a comfort.  

I started the project as a way to capture my life’s stories for my sons, and as I shared it with people, including my sons, they all encouraged me to collect the stories into a book to publish them.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Resilience, for sure.  I am hoping the book inspires people to find their inner strength and embrace moving through all the things that happen to them, both the good and the horrific.  I don’t think you don’t need to go through unspeakable tragedy to be wise, but as I look at my life now, I realize that I am a much wiser and more thoughtful person for going through the loss of my husband and mother.  

If my book helps people even get through one day a little lighter, then I think it will have been worthwhile.

It’s been so gratifying to me to see the reviews from people who have read the book.  Running with Grace is a Wall Street Journal bestseller and been praised for its “emotional power” by Kirkus Reviews and Readers’ Favorite describes it as “a story of triumphs and defeats inspiring readers to never give up.”

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I never thought I would write a memoir.  I had been toying with writing a book of business lessons from a woman in finance and I had even began an outline before my husband died. 

After my husband died, I started to believe there had to be a reason all these tragic things had happened to me, and that I wanted to share the lessons that I had learned. It’s such a deeply personal book that the only way I thought to reach people was to write it as a memoir. My individual stories became chapters with the thread of resilience tying them all together.  

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book (apart from yourself!), what would you ask them and why?

Without a doubt, my grandfather.  I have so many questions for him that as a child I would have never thought to ask.  I would love to learn more of his story–about his upbringing and how he became the person of such deep integrity.  I’d also love to know what it really felt like when as a man in his middle age he became essentially the father to twin babies.  I can’t imagine that was easy, but I never felt anything but love and support from him. 

6) Has there been a social media site in particular that has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

LinkedIn has been hugely beneficial for me.  Not only is it the only social media site I personally spend time on, but I’ve found the connections I’ve made to be richer and more fruitful.  LinkedIn recently connected me to a podcast series, that invited me to do a live chat for their subscribers.  To support the event, they purchased books as well as interviewed me.  LinkedIn hasn’t been overwhelmed by the noise of the other social media platforms, yet.  And I am hoping it stays that way. 

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Find a great editor.  No one writes a book alone.  The book writing process is much more difficult than I expected. I independently published and invested in professionals to guide me through what feels very much like the wild west process.

I also suggest an aspiring writer assemble a group of trusted beta readers who will give candid feedback.  My beta readers were incredibly helpful, especially at identifying some of the business discussions that were too insider baseball for a wider audience.  Every writer (and person really) has inherent biases and a diverse group of outside readers can spot them for you. Include people who don’t know you personally to get the most objective feedback.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Are any new books/projects on the horizon?

If readers learn anything from the book it is that the old Yiddish adage “Man Plans and God Laughs” is true.  It’s futile to control the future.  The only thing you can control is your actions in the present. My life has played out in no way that I had ever envisioned and my hope is that this book will introduce me to an audience outside the finance community as the message is really relevant to women and men everywhere.