Community Champion: Reginald V. Bennett
Reginald V. Bennett demonstrates his enthusiasm for helping others build strong financial foundations not only in his professional endeavors, but in his personal pursuits as well. He draws upon his own family’s past experiences to inspire his drive to bring financial wellness resources and support to underserved communities across Georgia and beyond.
With a personal vision that aligns not only with his professional goals but also with the mission of the National Financial Educators Council, Community Champion Reginald V. Bennett centers his efforts around helping individuals and families seize control of their financial futures. His community contributions and championship are heightened by his energy, dynamism, empathy, and approachability. Reggie shows us daily that we can achieve our most cherished goals when we work together.
Personal Statement
Numbers have always been my language, but helping people build a strong financial foundation has always been my purpose. Over the course of my 30-year career, I’ve worked in financial analytics, modeling, and strategic leadership at major institutions like the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young, Delta Air Lines, and Genesys. While those experiences shaped my technical skills, my passion has always centered on financial wellness – particularly helping underserved individuals and families gain the knowledge and confidence they need to control their financial futures. Today, through The Legacy Empowerment Solutions Group, I focus on breaking cycles of poverty, creating pathways to generational wealth, and inspiring individuals to believe in the power of financial literacy to transform their lives.
The need for financial education is deeply personal to me. I can still remember standing with my family inside the model home we hoped to buy in Brooklyn, New York – the smell of fresh paint lingering in the air, the newness of the creaking floorboards underfoot. We were just two weeks away from closing when my father, overwhelmed by fear about affording the mortgage, pulled out of the contract. No one was there to guide us through budgeting, to show us how manageable that dream could have been. Watching that opportunity slip through our fingers left a mark on me – a hollow ache that no numbers or statistics could erase. That moment fuels my commitment today: I don’t want any other family to experience the sense of loss, fear, and regret that we did simply because they lack trusted financial knowledge.
My drive to champion financial wellness comes from moments like that, and from countless others I’ve witnessed during my career. I saw the devastating impact of the 2008 financial crisis on families who had never been taught to navigate financial uncertainty. I realized financial literacy must start early – before hardship strikes – not as a reactive tool, but as a proactive foundation for life. Every time I meet someone on the brink of opportunity yet paralyzed by financial fear, I remember my own family’s missed chance, and I recommit to making sure education, not fear, shapes their future.
Leading financial wellness efforts in Georgia through the NFEC is giving me the opportunity to reach individuals before it’s too late – to offer them the tools, knowledge, and support they need to build secure, empowered lives. It’s an honor to serve this mission. Through this campaign and my work with The Legacy Empowerment Solutions Group, I am committed to creating stronger communities, opening doors to opportunity, and helping individuals and families rewrite their financial stories for generations to come.
Community Champion: Reginald V. Bennett
Reginald V. Bennett has underscored his commitment to championing Georgia communities throughout his three decades of financial services experience and by actively participating on the GFEC Advisory Board. His passion for community leadership earns him our sincerest respect and gratitude.
Through Bennett’s advocacy, individuals, families, and whole communities across the Peach State become more resilient and empowered. We are deeply thankful for his commitment to the financial wellness cause and his personal dedication to uplifting others.
