The first time someone told me I needed a 401(k), I had no idea what they were talking about. I was in college, working my first real corporate job, trying to figure out adulthood one paycheck at a time. Then the benefits representative, someone who looked like me, sat me down and said: "You need to participate in the 401(k) so you can get the employer match. Don't leave free money on the table. Just put in 'x' percent." I didn't know what that percentage would mean once it h

You don't have to start big. You have to start. Maybe for you, it's $40 a month. Maybe it's finally opening that retirement account. Maybe it's increasing your 401(k) contribution. Maybe it's figuring out what you're actually invested in. Maybe it's sitting down with someone and asking the questions you've been too intimidated to ask. The goal isn't to do everything at once. The goal is to stop letting uncertainty keep you from doing anything at all.

And Someone Is Always Ready to Sell to It. This past week, I wasn't thinking about investing. I wasn't thinking about retirement. I wasn't even thinking about the stock market (okay... not as much as I usually do). I was thinking about Haiti. This week, I found myself checking my phone more than usual. Every message from family made me wonder what they were hearing, what they were feeling, and what tomorrow might bring. Some of the people I love are living with that uncertain

A few weeks ago, I came home from my aunt's funeral. Like many funerals, it was filled with hugs, tears, stories, and the quiet realization that life changes in an instant. Later that evening, I sat down with my mom. Mommy's 70 years old. If you know Caribbean mothers, you already know. They're strong. Opinionated. Loving. And they'll tell you exactly what's on their mind whether you asked or not. Somehow our conversation drifted toward her own funeral. She looked at me and s

My son looked me straight in the face and said, "But we have the money." We were at the store. He wanted something that wasn't on the shopping list. Keep in mind we created the shopping list together before leaving the house. I said not today. And that's when he hit me with it – the line every parent knows. "But we HAVE the money." I almost laughed. Because y'all... that's exactly how we think as adults too. If I got it, I should spend it, right? Wrong. Having the money and b

If you're a parent, you already know summer drains two things fast – your energy and your bank account. Between camps, outings, snacks, and trying to keep kids entertained without parking them in front of a screen, it can start to feel like a second job. This summer, I tried something different with my boys. Instead of packing in more activities, I started sneaking in small "money moments." Nothing fancy. Just real-life stuff: • Comparing prices out loud at the grocery store

Congratulations! After years of classes, exams, internships, late nights, and sacrifices, you've landed your first job. While it's exciting to focus on your starting salary, there's something many new graduates overlook that can have an even bigger impact on their future: their benefits package. As a first-generation college graduate raised by Haitian immigrant parents, I was taught how to work hard, earn money, and save it. What I wasn't taught was how to use employer benefi

5 financial moves that actually matter in the first 30 days. Coming from someone who's been there. Being laid off is not a reflection of your worth. Sometimes life shifts the ground beneath you and suddenly you're standing in a season you didn't ask for. I know that feeling. I lived it - and what I learned on the other side is what I want to share with you. What you do financially in the first 30 days after a layoff matters more than almost anything else. So here's what I did

Burnout, Heartbreak, Layoffs & Motherhood: The Real Reason I Went Quiet. This is a story about resilience, reinvention, survival mode, soft life goals, rebuilding confidence, protecting your peace and your pockets, and learning how to become again after life forces you to start over.

In this blog post, I want to highlight how a client realized they were being played financially.

A quick list of potential places to save your money so it makes you more money.

The U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will...

Did you know you can deduct many of your office expenses related to your home office? Keep reading for a brief list of 2020 expenses you can

Charge-offs are a big deal. This typically happens when you don't make a minimum payment for 180 days or more.

You work hard for your money. It’s only natural to want control over what happens to your assets after you die....