Mary Lou Reid entered the convent as a girl of eighteen. While there she lost 50 pounds and has kept the weight off for 50 years. After leaving the convent Mary Lou headed to New York where she worked in the arts and media business. She attended NYU business school and then relocated to Los Angeles where she completed her education in finance. Mary Lou has worked as a Certified Financial Planner for the past 30 years. She has given many seminars, written articles, and has appeared as a financial expert on TV.