The Financial Griot

The world is back at war and the TFG crew discusses how we feel about the news.  For context, the global economic impact of violence is estimated to be $14.4 trillion. The U.S. federal price tag for the post-9/11 wars is over $8 trillion . There is a true cost of war. It's both financial, emotional and moral. This can ultimately change you at your core.   The U.S. has several budgetary costs for p...

The TFG crew discusses modern cash spending and the influence of digital scamming.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, financial fraud increased by over 30% from 2021 to 2022 , with total losses surpassing $8.8 billion. The biggest losses were to investment scams, including cryptocurrency schemes, which cost people more than $3.8 billion, double the amount in 2021. With the rise of the dig...

The crew is together again ( Yes! Lovely is with us lol)  and shares life updates. Oh, and Lawrence got robbed for his tires again. Alainta's crib is under renovation. Yep, there are setbacks and then there are more financially expensive setbacks. Tune in to hear how you are holding up.   For context     According to police records, there have been more than 100,000 auto crimes committed in the DM...

Lawrence and Alainta have no specific topic; nonetheless great conversation and laughter. We also reflect on being searchable on Google and why you should do a better job branding yourself in the long run. The best thing you can do is harness the power of images.  High-quality images can be a key to marketing success. They can help your brand stand out, attract the right audience, and convey profe...

Lawrence and Alainta discuss scammers and their lack of financial proof that what they are selling actually works. It's one thing to be socially rich in appearance, it's another thing to have enough assets and financial security. Rich people IRL simply move differently than the norm.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, financial fraud increased by over 30% from 2021 to 2022 , with total lo...

Today, Alainta is speaking with guest Dr. Constance Craig Mason. She shares her story of leaving her healthcare job and entering the financial entrepreneurial space. Her passion for helping families become secure in their financial wealth.  The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the sto...

Lawrence and Alainta discuss the evolution and financial progression of being older. Becoming true geriatric millennials who are over 30 but not quite 50. The game is definitely changing.    What's a Geriatric Millennial? Geriatric millennials are a micro-generation of people born between 1980 and 1985. The term was popularized in a viral Medium article titled "Why the Hybrid Workforce of the Futu...

Today, we have featured guest Crystina Cardoza who is a math specialist and financial literacy educator. She shared her passion for teaching math and encouraged others to be more confident in their math abilities in order to thrive in their personal finances.   What's the Financial Griot? The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap...

Lawrence and Alainta discuss how to harness life's internal pressure. There is a daily exercise of risk assessment that we make each day to be successful. Daily challenges and the tension we carry; we cannot afford to make simple mistakes anymore. That's the price for autonomy and independence in a modern society.  What's a Financial Griot Anyways? The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Fina...

Today, we break down the latest 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. The TFG reflects on how statistics can be used as a proactive tool and how the numbers humanize the average American's experience with money.  The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in clo...

Today, the crew discussed the recent increase in worker strikes, their respective financial impacts, and the potential impacts on our entire society. The picket line, work freeze, and the cost of goods are taking their toll. Something has to give. Will society break or will the workers?   What's a Griot? The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closin...

Today the crew discusses Trevor Noah's autobiography Born a Crime.  Born a Crime is a memoir by Trevor Noah that covers his experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa. The book is described as heartfelt, funny, and heartbreaking. It covers the dangerous situations Noah faced as the child of a Black Xhosa woman and a white Swiss man in a country that forbade interracial unions. Some say the b...

Today the crew discusses extravagant events and super soft life. A lot of Americans are getting extorted by the Soft Life and #treatculture.    The Power of Media and Extorting Hard Earned Dollars: The hard definition of extortion is a crime that involves obtaining money, property, or services from someone through threats or intimidation. But in this instance, we are getting extorted by social med...

Bonus Episode - A great conversation between friends on the Financial Griot Podcast about Black Masculinity in a changing world. It's no secret that exposure to racism and discrimination is linked to various adverse mental health outcomes. The effects of systemic racism on Black Americans have been persistent and profound, as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)  points out, and the incr...

The TFG crew is BACK! Well 2/3 of us. LOL, Lawrence and Alainta catching up on life. And celebrating Mister Millionaire status (Lawrence Gonzalez) net worth.    The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don't. Stories about growth, opportunity, and embracing changes...

The crew is together and today we discuss Lawrence's family's pending millionaire status and the significance of partnership and marriage.   The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don't. Stories about growth, opportunity, and embracing changes. Beyond that, we ta...

The crew is together again.  Lawrence discusses his recent experience on a financial panel, discussing whole life insurance vs. term life insurance. The crew dives into the financial differences and the reasons why whole life insurance does not serve our community well. Whole life insurance is more beneficial for sellers but not the families who are purchasing these financial products.    The Fina...

The crew is together and today we discuss Keke Palmer and social media antics.    The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don't. Stories about growth, opportunity, and embracing changes. Beyond that, we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially...

This past Friday the Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student loan cancellation. The crew discusses the recent Supreme Court rulings and how these decisions will impact our lives and the entire country.    The Story behind the Financial Griot Podcast: The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differ...

2/3 gang is present. Today we have guest Jonathan Thomas and he shares his money story and proactive solutions for building wealth.    The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don't. Stories about growth, opportunity, and embracing changes. Beyond that, we talk abo...

Warning - Triggering Topic  Loneliness is a public health crisis that has been called an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General. In 2021, 49% of adults reported having three or fewer friends, compared to 27% in 1990. For young people ages 15 to 24, the time spent in-person with friends fell from about 150 minutes per day in 2003 to 40 minutes per day in 2020. The health impact of loneliness is compa...

The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don't. Stories about growth, opportunity, and embracing changes. Beyond that, we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporate actionable steps, and ultimately build generational wealth....

We are all together again. Today we discuss Lawrence's controversial tweet on Twitter about the lack of money  (in Lawrence's voice) is not financial trauma. If every thing is financial trauma than nothing is financial trauma. Yeah, this might get him canceled for life.    The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing...

Today we discuss the topic of black homeownership. We derived the conversation from a relator article breakdown of homeownership amongst different races and what the numbers mean for black communities moving forward.    The Financial Griot  is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. We tell the stories that others don'...

The crew shares the story of being called a "Bootstrapper" and how bootstrapping has influenced their lives.  Working definition Bootstrapping is a business practice where an entrepreneur starts a company with little capital, relying on money other than outside investments. Bootstrapping involves using only existing resources, such as personal savings, to start and grow a company. Bootstrapped com...