I devoted my life to financial literacy to help you get to that place in your life. You know that place. That place where you close your eyes and feel perfectly at peace and energized all at the same time. That place where you know you’re at your best, that you were somehow built for this, this thing you’re doing that you can’t believe you get to spend your life doing.

Life isn’t about cringing every time you run your credit card through a cash register or dodging calls from bill collectors. It’s not about the next paycheck, next rent check, next job, next in line.

Life is about finding your why.

So here’s the deal – you have the why, I have the how.

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In 2008, I landed an EA role at a financial firm and I learned more than I could’ve ever imagined!  No one I knew growing up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn had a Trust, a Will, a whole life insurance, a disability policy, assets or a financial planner!  What the heck were these things?  Guess only high net worth individuals needed them, unlike me!

Then it hit me…..geez, how much better would my parents be doing right now in retirement had they invested ANY of their money in ANY thing?  They both came to NY as young children from Puerto Rico and they each had been working their butts off since they were teens.  

Why did they both work so hard all their lives and now, in retirement, have hardly anything to show for it other than the family house?

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I am a native New Yorker, lifetime environmental justice advocate, and I spent years of my adult life studying anti-capitalist, feminist, and anti-racist philosophy. I am happiest with my hands in the soil growing vegetables, in the mountains on a trail somewhere, or racing cars in open road rallies. My interests take me to far-flung places, but New York is where I am rooted.

What does any of this have to do with financial planning? I ended up with a job at a wealth management firm because of chance and circumstance.

I realized I could use my position in this profession to help people avoid some of the financial mistakes I couldn’t help my family to avoid. I finally understood how I could infect people with the knowledge they need - not just to survive - but to thrive in the biased and unfair system we live in.

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Hi! I’m Allison. I’m a native Washingtonian that lives happily alongside my sidekick/son just outside of D.C. I love to travel, connect with new people and I love everything that has to do with growth, empowerment, social justice and financial wellness.

I have explored various career paths - education, government consulting, workforce / career development, and now finance. It’s important for me to do work that aligns with my own story, which is why this transition to finance makes sense. I am a life-long learner that spent a tremendous amount of money on higher education.

For many years after graduating, I felt paralyzed by this massive debt and continued to dig deeper into debt. In the spring of 2016, when I learned I would become a mom, something inside of me shifted and made me determined to find a way out of debt. 

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As a mixed race Caribbean kid, I had trouble figuring out where to find roles that I felt comfortable playing. I started writing for myself and others by turning my music into plays. Every piece I create has an educational component. It's the 'each on teach one' part of Hip Hop.

I've been an entrepreneur since my teenage days, and tell my students that the only thing that gets me out of my house before 10am is talking to kids. Since the essence of Hip Hop is making something from nothing, I have rapped, written, and performed every freelance gig available to my skill set. I linked up with Pockets Change and cohost the Brunch & Budget podcast  to help people find freedom in expression, understanding, and their finances.

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Danyell is the Founder & CEO of Maven Media Management. An affiliate of FMI, Maven Media Management takes pride in thinking outside the box. We strive to promote as well as expose clients far beyond obvious realms. Offering both national and regional press outreach, Maven Media Management will work to grow and expand your reach, ignite interest and educate the public as you ready new initiatives and exciting advancements for your brand. Our goal is to continually work to develop your story and help to elevate your brand and lifestyle.

Website: http://mavenmediamanagement.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyell-flowers-078976ba/

Simone Harvin is the epitome of all things Black Girl Magic — she’s resourceful, competent, qualified, fun-loving and creative. Born in Wilmington NC, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing from the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). She is the founder of Shop Simone Cheri, a lifestyle brand celebrating black excellence and black girl magic via apparel and accessories. Her intense fire is fueled by being the type of person she needed to know growing up. Her hope is to inspire the next generation of brown girls by being the answer to some of the questions they may have. A self-described social introvert, she loves to hang out with her tribe of equally amazing and inspiring people, loves the water, loves to cook, eat, travel and can be found drinking high-end cocktails literally all over the world.

Website: https://shopsimonecheri.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneharvin/

Lizette Daniel is a dedicated professional in the S.T.E.M. career field. Lizette earned her B.S. in Chemistry after completing her degree upon early admission to the University of the Virgin Islands. She is experienced and proficient at developing and executing research, curriculum, and educational program projects. After discovering her natural talent and interest in science education, she earned an Educator’s certificate in numerous states. Lizette’s drive towards effective online learning and curriculum development has intertwined with her passion for fiscal knowledge, leading her to the team here at Pockets Change.