I believe financial services has overlooked many underserved communities in the United States today. Too many people from all walks of life are left behind. That’s why I chose to become involved in promoting financial education. Through innovation, entrepreneurship, and a focus on building people’s personal finance capabilities, I try to help those underserved communities experience the generational benefits of a strong financial strategy. People are simply looking for a way to turn their lives around and build a better future.

I feel a deep passion for spreading financial literacy among as many people as I can reach. People make wrong financial decisions every day, even when they believe they’re doing the right thing. Others simply don’t know how to change the negative situations in which they currently find themselves. They dig themselves into a hole and don’t know the way out. Here’s the first law to remember about holes: When you’re in one, stop digging! Instead, stop. Look. Listen. Learn. Most people learn about finances by listening to the wrong advisers – family, friends, or even a salesperson – many of whom may be struggling to manage their own money. Wrong advice can lead you toward negative situations and extreme financial anxiety. The good news is that there’s an answer. You can learn to save enough money for a college education and a financially worry-free life well into retirement. Everyone can benefit from financial literacy, no matter their life stage.

My own life experiences have led me down a path toward financial wellness, and given me the passion to help others get there. Let me offer some examples. Have you ever paid $30,000 for a $13,000 car? Or spent $5,000 repaying a $1,000 loan? Have you had to withdraw all your retirement savings just to make ends meet, or to handle an unexpected expense? Those are some of the mistakes I made before I received a solid financial education. I’m an educated man with a college degree, Summa Cum Laude in fact. But what I didn’t learn was one of the most important lessons in life: how to manage money. Back then, I always wondered, why do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? What did rich people know that I didn’t? Through my research and travels, I found out that it is never too late to learn. Since then I’ve become more financially savvy and have a much better handle on the principles of managing money. When I finally made the decision to turn my financial life around, I became a completely new person. Anyone can do the same.

I envision an America where everyone can achieve a financially secure future. I don’t believe people should ever have to abandon their dreams. I am committed to providing all Americans with a solid financial education, teaching them about financial concepts that will become an important part of their strategies to become financially secure. When people understand how money works, they make smart decisions about their finances and put themselves on a path to a brighter future. Through financial education, I can inform and empower others to take charge and create the lifestyles they deserve.

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See the latest NFEC survey results on how much financial illiteracy costs