Ask Ashley

Daniel Torres paid off roughly $40,000 in student loans and credit card debt, then taught himself to invest by running his own accounts alongside a fully managed one to see if he could match it. He did. Daniel is a Strategic Customer Success Account Manager at Docusign, born in Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn, who watched his father build businesses from mowing golf courses to wholesale, put a family car payment on his own credit card during the 2008 crisis, and now leads Docusign's Latinx ERG as culture co-chair. He talks with Ashley Russo about family, money, and what he can control at work.


Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and introducing Daniel Torres

02:00 How his father's businesses shaped his drive

04:09 His mother's path from stay at home mom to legal assistant

06:19 The credit lesson his parents passed down

07:52 Moving to Florida and stepping in during the 2008 crisis

10:00 What sacrifice for family taught him

11:33 Carrying community into his career

14:29 From ERG member to global culture co-chair

17:33 Finance as common ground across communities

19:14 Paying off debt, saving, and learning to invest

23:16 Facing tech layoffs and controlling what you can

27:31 Advice to his younger self


You can follow Daniel Torres here:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-torres-217a6214/


Learn more about Docusign:

Website - https://docusign.com

What is Ask Ashley?

In Ask Ashley, Founder, Thoughtleader and award-winning media personality Ashley Russo sits down with leaders who bring purpose and humanity to business.

Each episode explores how people navigate uncertainty, lead with empathy, and create meaningful change in their organizations and lives. Listeners gain practical insights on resilience, leadership, and financially confident decision-making amid disruption.

This podcast is brought to you by Ask Ashley. If you’re interested in building a confident, purpose-driven wealth plan, reach out to Ashley at ashley.russo@nm.com.

00:00:01:19 - 00:00:30:00
Ashley
Welcome to Ask Ashley, the podcast, where we shine a light on the unsung heroes of the workplace. I'm your host, Ashley Russo, financial AI board member, thought leader and wealth management advisor. Each week we sit down with inspiring leaders, exploring their journeys, motivations, and the real challenges they face from job and security to the evolving role of AI in a world where many feel overlooked.

00:00:30:01 - 00:01:00:09
Ashley
These guests are building hope and connection for their colleagues. Join us as we uncover their stories and discover how they're making a difference, one conversation at a time. Hello, everybody. Ashley Russo here. And not only is this one of my favorite guests just because of his story, but he's also so fashionable. For those of you listening, you should see this fantastic shirt he's wearing.

00:01:00:09 - 00:01:06:04
Ashley
It's always good shirts with you, I love it, I love it, so please introduce yourself.

00:01:06:06 - 00:01:29:17
Daniel
Thanks. Yeah. Hi. My name is Daniel Torres. Most people call me Danny. I'm a strategic customer success account manager at Docusign. I was born in Puerto Rico. I grew up in New York City, in Brooklyn, and I have been in Florida in the Orlando area for the past. It'll be 11 years in December, and I'm excited to be here and share my story.

00:01:29:18 - 00:01:46:19
Ashley
Yes, yes. Well, I want to start with with your family because, you know, they were very influential. I'd love to start with, how did watching your dad build businesses from nothing shape the drive that you carry into your own career?

00:01:46:21 - 00:02:16:01
Daniel
So growing up, my dad started out mowing golf courses for a living. After that, he decided to open his own business and he started selling refurbished electronics to different businesses around New York City. The event transitioned into selling wholesale to different supermarkets and bodegas around the city. So my dad was constantly working. You know, he inspired me to have a drive.

00:02:16:03 - 00:02:45:03
Daniel
Interestingly enough, I went to Bassett College, which is the number one entrepreneurial college in the nation. So one of the first things they have you do as a freshman, Babson, is, what, 30 of the kids in your class, you start your own business. So he sort of inspired me to take that path and take the entrepreneurial path. Though I don't own my own business today, part of what I do at Docusign is an individual contributor.

00:02:45:03 - 00:03:12:18
Daniel
So I'm responsible for a book of business. I'm responsible for managing that book of business on my own, making sure that we're meeting goals and deadlines. Obviously, I have a quota to me. So just having that entrepreneurial spirit to figure out and talk to your customers and figure out what their pain points are, what their needs are, how we can integrate our software into their systems, and how we can have mutual roles together.

00:03:12:20 - 00:03:40:07
Daniel
That sort of takes an entrepreneurial spirit to kind of be your own lead, manage your own accounts, and have those open and honest conversations with your customers. So seeing him manage his own business and work hard to to support the family. So it's sort of drives me. And as we continue to go through this, this interview, you'll learn more on how he's inspired me, how my mom has inspired me.

00:03:40:10 - 00:03:49:14
Daniel
My family in general. I mean, being Latinx, you know, family is a big thing in our community. So they they they definitely have a lot of influence in who I am today.

00:03:49:16 - 00:04:09:11
Ashley
Well, speaking of your mom, let's go there. She's no slouch herself. It sounds like sounds like she went in her indie when she were in school, and then built a career from an assistant to a paralegal. Is that correct? And what did watching her then you.

00:04:09:13 - 00:04:30:17
Daniel
So my mom was a say at home mom until me and my two brothers. There was three of us in total on the middle of three boys. She decided to stay at home and take care of us until we were all in school. And then she decided to take a dad course that also had secretarial studies to it.

00:04:30:18 - 00:04:57:00
Daniel
So she learned how to type, and part of that was placing her into a job after she graduated. You know, after she graduated, she was placed into foster care and adoption company. And then from there she moved into insurance. And she didn't necessarily become a paralegal, but she was basically close to legal. She just didn't have the certification for it.

00:04:57:00 - 00:05:19:16
Daniel
But she was considered a legal assistant. So my mom always, you know, she went to work 40, 40 hours a week, came home, cooked for us, make sure we were good in school, took us to our doctor's appointments. So, like, my mom was basically the backbone of the family. And, you know, you know, we were on public assistance growing up.

00:05:19:16 - 00:05:51:13
Daniel
And, you know, she made sure that she had to do what she had to do. And my dad made sure what he had to do to better our lives and, you know, get off of public assistance, what we needed to and also sustain us and provide the best life that they could for, for me and my brother. So, again, both of my parents are super inspiring me and also, you know, encouraged us to get an education and work hard because those things are what will continue to better our lives and kind of help us progress in the future as well.

00:05:51:15 - 00:06:05:23
Daniel
Because, I mean, all parents want to want to see their kids progress in life and do better than they did. So they've always motivated us and inspired us to kind of achieve the best and do the best that we could.

00:06:06:00 - 00:06:19:17
Ashley
They sound like incredible examples, and I know in our previous conversation there was a credit lesson that they also passed on. We we share about that. How that stayed.

00:06:19:17 - 00:06:21:05
Ashley
With you.

00:06:21:07 - 00:06:48:20
Daniel
Yeah, yeah. And I feel like this is typical. And in my next families were like, you know, parents try to keep their kids away from the financial aspects of being an adult. And, you know, the finances. I typically kept the secret and between the adults and the family. But one thing I remember growing up, the only thing one of the things that they did teach us, especially my mom, she's just like, credit is important.

00:06:48:21 - 00:07:15:18
Daniel
And if you have to make the minimum payment IO credit cards each month, make sure you do that, because credit essentially having good credit, essentially opens the doors for getting loans and getting financial assistance and, you know, opening businesses and owning a home. So that's one of the financial the financial advice that my my parents gave me. I mean, I wish they gave me more.

00:07:15:18 - 00:07:28:12
Daniel
And we'll get into that later in the interview about, you know, they they essentially provided me with a nugget of financial advice, said that they thought it was appropriate for me to learn at that time.

00:07:28:13 - 00:07:52:04
Ashley
You know, that's good. It starts somewhere and it starts with having the conversation. That's good. And then if we fast for time, your family moved to Florida, correct where you are now and how to start from scratch. You had to step in to help. What was that like? You know, taking that that workload alongside your parents?

00:07:52:09 - 00:08:13:20
Daniel
Yeah. So they moved down here in Florida and oh, five they waited until me and my older brother were in college, and they came down with my younger brother. You know, my mom didn't have a job when she moved down here. As I mentioned before, my dad owned his own business in New York. It wasn't something he could transfer down here to Florida.

00:08:13:22 - 00:08:40:05
Daniel
But again, my dad is a go getter. So, you know, he started finding flea markets where he can sell different merchandise and essentially start a business from scratch. My mom came down essentially with savings and, you know, eventually burned through that while she was trying to find a job. And I was at that point finishing my college career, moving to New York.

00:08:40:05 - 00:09:02:19
Daniel
I wasn't making much money. I think I was making maybe 11, 25 an hour in my first job at Fordham University in the Bronx. I would travel an hour back and forth every day. This was during 2008. So that was the financial crisis. And, you know, my mom was sort of at risk of losing one of her vehicles because she couldn't make the payment.

00:09:02:19 - 00:09:24:09
Daniel
And obviously, a vehicle, especially in Florida, is very vital to get around and doing what you need to do. But, you know, in my mind is like my parents did all they could do to provide for me most of my life. So there's even if I'm struggling financially, there's something I can do to help alleviate the burden on them.

00:09:24:10 - 00:09:41:20
Daniel
Even if I'm just starting my first job in New York and things like that, I'm just like, whatever they needed. I was going to try and do my best to provide. And, you know, it wasn't the best thing to do, but I put a car payment on a credit card just to make sure they had the basic needs they needed.

00:09:41:20 - 00:10:00:03
Daniel
Especially here in Florida. Needing a car is vital. So, you know, it's essentially, for me, family. Sometimes you just have to make sacrifices times they're not the best financial decisions, but you know, they needed what they needed. And if I can help in any sort of way, then I was going to do so.

00:10:00:06 - 00:10:21:22
Ashley
What did that that hearing of time teach you about yourself? I mean, that's a lot right to take on and to have that level of care and insight at such a young age when most kids that age there I don't self-focused is the word I'd use. So when did that period of time you about yourself?

00:10:22:00 - 00:10:42:10
Daniel
I think it's really the the values that that were instilled in me growing up, like family is important and we do our best to take care of our family with what we have. You know, I'm the type of person, like if somebody needs something and if I can help and provide, I, I'm going to do that, especially when it comes to the family and especially my parents.

00:10:42:11 - 00:11:04:04
Daniel
I mean, again, they did all they could to provide the best life that they could for me and my brothers throughout my whole life. So if the roles reversed, obviously I'm going to do what I can to provide for that, what they need. So it was a question or hesitation. That's just kind of how my counting has been.

00:11:04:06 - 00:11:28:12
Daniel
I mean, I grew up, grew up around grandparents involving grew up. Therefore we grew up on the second floor. I had my cousins and my aunts all around us. So we were a pretty tight knit family. So, you know, family was always there. That's my grandmother needed to the washing machine and my I would get together again. I'm watching, which is just this is how we are as a community.

00:11:28:12 - 00:11:33:16
Daniel
I think we kind of take care of our own and we take care of each other.

00:11:33:18 - 00:12:03:10
Ashley
I want to I want you guys to adopt me. Sounds so loving and wonderful and just that growing, you know, so much family, so close by and so supportive. How how incredible with our world and society be today. If that kind of love and support and care was given throughout families. I think that's absolutely incredible. You know, obviously community is clearly is important and has been important to you growing up.

00:12:03:16 - 00:12:11:10
Ashley
How does that idea of showing up for others shape the way you collaborate today?

00:12:11:13 - 00:12:51:00
Daniel
I, I think it translates into my career, too. I mean, I led the Linux here at Docusign. I started as just a basic member, then moved into a committee lead and eventually transitioned into the culture co-chair. All. You also started an organization. When I went to college, it was awful and one of my friends for president. So I think building is important so that we can support each other, not the committee is one of those.

00:12:51:01 - 00:13:17:03
Daniel
As co-chair of the Cross Library, because, you know, Linux is a huge community and there's different variations of being next few men and women and Mexican and so on and so forth. Then we all don't have the same traditions. We all may have similar traditions, similar food that all have I unique identities that we can learn from each other.

00:13:17:04 - 00:13:47:20
Daniel
And not only can we learn from each other within our own community, but now we have all bold, which is our back here at sign and P, which is our Asian ERG. I feel like we can all learn from each other in some sort of way. We all have common that can bring us together, but we also have differences that we can learn from and pull from to kind of build our build a larger, more, more larger community amongst amongst all of us.

00:13:47:22 - 00:14:02:09
Daniel
So that's kind of, you know, one of my goals as, as an urge just not to only build community within the links group, but to build community within all of our minority groups that are represented here.

00:14:02:11 - 00:14:29:14
Ashley
That's that's beautiful. And it does seem like a path from childhood. And what was shown to you in terms of community and then bringing that into the the greater world. What a neat thing to do. And you said something there. You went from member to committee lead to global co-chair. We went past that a little quick. That's an incredible primer.

00:14:29:16 - 00:14:34:14
Ashley
What was that like and what were some of the key turning points along that incredible path?

00:14:34:15 - 00:14:56:23
Daniel
Yeah. So when I first got to Docusign, I learned about IGS. I didn't know that was a thing. I didn't know what an urge was. I worked previously at a digital marketing company for 12 years. ERGs weren't a thing. It sort of brought me back to my college days, you know, leading the the Ola group for students at Babson.

00:14:56:23 - 00:15:26:12
Daniel
So I was like, oh, this is really cool. I can build community. Initially, when I first started six years ago, it was very like a once a month informal get together where we kind of eat lunch together via zoom because I started in 2020. So this is mid pandemic. So we just get together, eat our lunch via zoom, just have informal conversations, get to know each other, and then they brought someone in to kind of bring structure to the.

00:15:26:14 - 00:15:56:13
Daniel
So we started with four, which was like a culture committee, our community committee which was service, our professional development committee. And then there was a communication events committee. So that's how we kind of split up. Being that I had just started at Docusign, I wasn't sure what my workload would be like. So I was just like, and I didn't know what would be necessary to be part of the energy.

00:15:56:13 - 00:16:14:14
Daniel
So I was like, okay, I'll just start as a member. I'll join one of the committees as a member. So I joined the culture committee as a member. And then once I got the hang of my own workflow and what was required of my my main job, and then I'll still got a taste for what was required to run.

00:16:14:16 - 00:16:42:11
Daniel
I was like, okay, I know what to expect so I can dedicate more time and kind of take a lead role. So then I became the lead, the co-lead of the Communication and Events Committee, and then eventually still the co-chair role is a two year commitment. So the current co-chairs were stepping down after their two year commitment, and there was two spaces opening up to take their place.

00:16:42:11 - 00:17:07:12
Daniel
I just felt like it was the right time and the right progression to take that on. And me and one of my old coworkers who became really close friends through the were both sort of working together and reading Latin words. So we decided that we would both take on those roles and kind of collaborate together and run the the urge together.

00:17:07:13 - 00:17:15:03
Ashley
Said so casually, just run the urge to. That's wonderful.

00:17:15:05 - 00:17:33:22
Ashley
I'd be curious. You said in our previous conversations the neat thing about finances that it's universal and affects everybody. I thought that was a beautiful way of putting it. I'm curious, how did you use that common ground in some of these conversations you may have had in the early.

00:17:34:00 - 00:17:58:17
Daniel
Yeah. So I'm, I, I learned about financial literacy on my own, as I mentioned before, like the only nugget my parents gave me was sort of making making sure I made that minimum payment on the credit card. So make sure I keep my credit clean. You know, it was learning about financial literacy and anything financial was kind of a learn as you go type of experience.

00:17:58:17 - 00:18:20:07
Daniel
So, you know, I graduated college with a bunch of debt, and I was tired of living in that. I figured out how to pay off all my debt, essentially starting with the my loans that had the smallest amounts and kind of knocking those out one by one and using the extra money to pay off for the the higher.

00:18:20:07 - 00:18:45:00
Daniel
I don't know if that's the snowball or the avalanche method of getting rid of your debt, but eventually I think it took me maybe three or 4 or 5 years to get rid of all of my debt. I think I had maybe $40,000 in debt between student loans and credit card debt. Thankfully, I got a full tuition scholarship to go to Boston College, so that was one less thing I had to worry about.

00:18:45:00 - 00:19:14:13
Daniel
But I still had to work through my debt there. And then. Once I became debt free, I started putting a bunch of money in my savings, and then I'm like, okay, I'm only getting less than 1% of interest in my savings account, and that's not doing anything for me. So let me learn about investing. So instead of letting my money sit there for a side, decided to let my bank do a managed account for me as I learned how to invest and things like that.

00:19:14:14 - 00:19:43:02
Daniel
Once I learned on my own how to invest into different courses online, I was like, okay, I think I'm ready to do this on my own. So what I did, because I manage both mine and my husband's financial accounts, I was like, okay, let me leave my husband's financial account fully managed and let me manage my own accounts and let a few years pass and see how I perform versus the fully managed accounts.

00:19:43:03 - 00:20:10:10
Daniel
And they were basically the basically growing on par. So they were both performing on par to each other. And I'm like, okay, this kind of proves to me that I kind of know what I'm doing. So I think being like I said, finance kind of affects everyone. I shared my own story and how I what my journey was like helps people relate to that.

00:20:10:10 - 00:20:36:19
Daniel
And also when I do, because we have run a few financial literacy sessions with not only the links, but with our paved bulb groups as well as a collaboration, we typically start big picture, right? We give some statistics about what financial literacy is like in the United States. So about 50 to 60%, for example, of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

00:20:36:19 - 00:21:14:02
Daniel
So we take that that wide angle view, and then we kind of bring it into our individual communities and how that differs from the overall US population. So we talk about Latinx and what that looks like as far as home ownership and investments and education and the types of jobs that our community has. And we can learn also from the black and African-American community and what those barriers are and how, you know, the different barriers like redlining and limit to access to financial institutions and predatory loans and how that has affected generational wealth.

00:21:14:02 - 00:21:35:09
Daniel
So I like taking the broader picture and then making it relevant to our own specific community. So it's more relatable. And then I typically end with my own story because I didn't come for money, my family didn't come for money. I just essentially, as I mentioned, trial and error the whole way, just figuring out what my next goal was.

00:21:35:09 - 00:21:56:17
Daniel
My first goal was to get rid of that. I figured how to do that. Then it was safe. I did that successfully and I was like, okay, how can I make my money work for me? And I sort of figured that out as well. So I'm sort of teaching by example and showing people the steps I took and what my journey was like.

00:21:56:17 - 00:22:22:15
Daniel
So it's more relatable and more attainable, and then sort of teach lessons on what the tools that I used were, how I accomplished each goal, and sort of laying a map on how you don't have to do everything at once, because I didn't. Just like, here are the small little goals. Start with like $1,000 emergency fund and then build your savings to like six months of expenses in case something happens.

00:22:22:19 - 00:22:40:00
Daniel
If you want to take that further, do a full year in case something happens. Once you have a good cushion, then you can start thinking about investing. And you know, some people do multiple things at the same time. It's just really what your risk level is and what you want to accomplish. And then you sort of figure it out from there.

00:22:40:00 - 00:22:51:16
Daniel
But I think sharing my own story kind of makes it relatable and make makes it more attainable that, you know, I'm just a regular guy who didn't come from much, who kind of figured it out along the way.

00:22:51:17 - 00:23:16:21
Ashley
I would change the word regular to exceptional, but that's that's truly I mean, you're so vulnerable and honest and like you said, you're you're willing to show your fellow peers that you went through the journey and, and the confidence that gave you. And that's that's an incredible thing. I wonder, you know, obviously tech is has been very volatile lately.

00:23:16:21 - 00:23:28:01
Ashley
There's no way around that with with the layoffs and everything else. How do you approach that topic when people might be feeling uneasy?

00:23:28:03 - 00:23:54:10
Daniel
So I mean, it happened I mean, like you mentioned, the tech right now is very volatile. There's tons of was happening. You know, AI is this big thing and people are getting replaced by AI, but we tend to like to do is have an informal get together. Right. Just have the opportunity and the safe space for people to come in and just, you know, see what they feel, whether it's positive, whether it's negative, of the matter.

00:23:54:10 - 00:24:12:00
Daniel
You know, some people say, oh, it's just a DOB. It's not that serious. But we build relationships where we work. You know, some some of our coworkers become our friends and some of our teammates, you know, we we get to know each other along the way. Like, for example, my team today, I love everyone on my team. I have a great manager.

00:24:12:02 - 00:24:36:12
Daniel
My teammates are super cool. I can easily go to them that can come to me with anything. So to say that, you know, having a job is not also an emotional thing, is it to me is it's complete BS, if you will. So we just like to have that open space for people to, you know, greeter if they have to if they lost a coworker.

00:24:36:14 - 00:24:55:15
Daniel
Tell us about their worries. I mean, I'm not a therapist or anything like that, but sometimes just talking and getting it out and having people listen and understand and be empathetic is, is is comforting, you know, and I think that's one of the main goals of an urge is to build community, to build safe space. So we like to start with that.

00:24:55:15 - 00:25:31:08
Daniel
And then, you know, it's okay to to see how you feel and whether it's positive or negative, but also it's important to take action, right. So we have no control over these companies and the layoffs that they're happening and how they make those decisions. What we have to pay attention to is what's within our control, right? So especially I know we've talked in the past about financial literacy and mental health.

00:25:31:10 - 00:26:06:12
Daniel
So for example, if you got laid off tomorrow and you had no savings and you were living paycheck to paycheck and you didn't have your resume updated, that's a more stressful situation than having, as I mentioned before, an emergency fund or 6 to 12 months worth of expenses. Save having your resume updated. So those are things within our own control that we can do to prepare for the likely or unlikelihood of us being let go from a company that's happening in all sectors at this point.

00:26:06:12 - 00:26:25:17
Daniel
But, you know, we can only control what we can control and kind of take hold of what we can control and be prepared with, with a cushion. If something were to happen and, you know, have our resumes updated, companies are going to do what's in their best interest. And we also need to do what's in our best interest.

00:26:25:17 - 00:26:59:10
Daniel
So it's okay to have that open space and have people be vulnerable and see what they're feeling. But it's also important to provide them with the tools and have them think about, hey, this is this is what's within your control and this is what you can do about it, so that if it does happen, you're at least prepared and you have less anxiety and less stress, and you have something to fall back on versus being completely taken off guard and scrambling to find a job.

00:26:59:10 - 00:27:20:03
Daniel
And especially in this job market where there's so few jobs with so many people within the hiring pool that have become more competitive. So you being prepared to, if anything were to happen, kind of gives you a leg up and also reduces that anxiety and stress getting into and trying to find that next opportunity.

00:27:20:04 - 00:27:30:13
Ashley
I love that I love it, you know, fear is the absence of preparation. And what you're talking about is being prepared for the things that are outside of the crystal ball. Right. And that's wonderful.

00:27:30:14 - 00:27:31:21
Daniel
Exactly.

00:27:31:23 - 00:27:50:09
Ashley
My favorite question and my final question, knowing all you know now, having all the experiences that you've had, if you can say one thing to your younger self, what would you say?

00:27:50:11 - 00:28:21:23
Daniel
One thing to my younger self. You know, as a kid I was a very curious kid, even with like my dad running his own business, sometimes I would help them like tally receipts and things like that. And I, I always dreamed about traveling the world. I remember having this book of like, different places around the world and different places around the world.

00:28:22:00 - 00:29:01:04
Daniel
I would say to my younger self to kind of keep dreaming, don't, and also keep the values that that you're you're taught because, you know, would I have imagined when I was younger that I'd be living the life that I'm living today? Maybe not. I think thankful to to my parents for for setting the groundwork and, you know, pushing me to be the best person I can, whether that be education, you know, pushing me in my career, too, but also just being a decent human being.

00:29:01:09 - 00:29:38:09
Daniel
And I've met some incredible people. I've traveled the world. Speaking of financial literacy, I'm also in a very stable place financially, thankfully, that not only can I sustain myself, but if my family ever needed anything I can step in to to help my family as well. So yeah, I would tell myself my younger self to, you know, keep dreaming, keep dreaming big, keep motivated, keep your family close because they're boring and, you know, just just be the, the the unique you that you were when you were a kid.

00:29:38:11 - 00:29:45:16
Daniel
So yeah, that's kind of what I would tell myself if I were to tell myself my younger self a little something.

00:29:45:18 - 00:30:03:20
Ashley
There is there is nothing I can say that is better than that. I love that mic drop moment. Thank you for being such. My cheeks hurt and smiling so much. Thank you for being such an incredible human. I'm so happy to know you. We appreciate your time.

00:30:03:22 - 00:30:05:16
Daniel
Thank you and thank you for having me.