We didn’t set out to become real estate partners; loss, love, and a few bold pivots led us here.
Marc: It took me a while—decades, actually—to build a life that truly made me happy. It all started right after I finished high school, when my dad became very ill. I stepped in to help run his business, and that experience became my first real introduction to business management. I learned quickly about responsibility, leadership, and pressure.
Later, I became a stockbroker specializing in municipal bonds—essentially helping people lend money to cities and states as a form of investment. I did that for 14 years, and I loved the strategy, the relationships, and the fast pace, but it was also stressful. Really stressful. Over time, that stress caught up with me, and I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. That diagnosis was a wake-up call.
My dad had died at 54 after suffering kidney failure for 14 years and living through two transplants. I remember thinking: I don’t want that to be my story. I don’t want to leave my kids without a father because I pushed myself too hard. So I stopped and reflected. Something had to change.
I pivoted and opened a retail gift shop, which I managed for seven years. I thought I had solved the stress problem, and in some ways, I had. But another issue surfaced—I had no life outside of work. I was at the store from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days. I felt like I still couldn’t quite get my arms around a life that felt balanced and harmonious.
Looking for a transformation, I was advised to sell either insurance or real estate since I can pretty much sell anything. I’m talkative and I genuinely enjoy connecting with people. So I began selling life insurance and simultaneously posted my profile on Match.com, determined to rebuild my personal life too.
That’s how I met Angie, and she had been a REALTOR® for years! As our relationship grew, she invited me to become her business partner.
Today, I love my life. 
Angie: Marc is a photographer in his free time. When I saw his profile on Match.com, I was captivated by his photographs. His work was stunning. I remember thinking, I have to meet this guy. We fell in love, blended our families—since we both had kids from different relationships—and built a beautiful life together. It quickly became clear to me that not only was he the man I wanted by my side, but we would also make phenomenal real estate partners: his social, magnetic personality paired with my years of experience.
I got my real estate license in 2001, shortly after arriving in Boca Raton from Colombia, my country of origin. Real estate was not on my radar at all. Right out of high school, I wanted to study law—criminal law, specifically. I was fascinated by it. I graduated from law school at 21 and began working for a judge. Soon after, I was recruited by the District Attorney’s Office in Bogotá (the capital) and moved there to work on major cases.
But the timing in Colombia was intense. The drug cartels were at their all-time high and crime continued to escalate. I was researching and witnessing crimes that were incredibly heavy. It took a toll on me. I felt unsafe.
My mom was already living in Boca Raton and encouraged me to move in with her. So I did, although I arrived unsure of my next step. I would have gladly studied law again in the U.S., but I needed a job quickly. After managing the legal department of a company handling charters to Cuba, my mom—who was a REALTOR®—encouraged me to get my real estate license. “With your knowledge of contracts, you’d be great at it,” she said.
She was right. I’ve been a REALTOR® for 25 years and have never looked back. Real estate has given Marc and me the flexibility to travel to exotic places—like St. Lucia, St. Martin, Greece, Italy, and the Cayman Islands—while building a life that feels full, balanced, and ours.
Sincerely,
Angela Maria Tanner
Marc S Tanner