13 Black Personal Finance Content Creators You Should Know
Every year in February, the U.S. celebrates Black History Month! While there’s a lot to unpack, I wanted to use this time to highlight and amplify some of my favorite Black personal finance content creators. From journalists to authors, YouTubers to podcasters, and energy healers to social workers, this list highlights folks who have taught me things about money, new ways to approach personal finance tactics, and instill motivation. These folks go beyond being Black financial influencers; they are shifting the way we think and talk about money. If you’re already familiar with these folks, great! And if not, I hope some of them motivate and inspire you, too.
Aja Evans
Aja Evans is a licensed mental health counselor and financial therapist in New York. Aja's decade-long experience as a mental health therapist has centered around supporting individuals in understanding how therapy can enhance their financial well-being. She's been through the confusion and overwhelm of managing money herself and is now known as the "feel-good financial therapist." Aja's forthcoming book, "But I Only Got Water," slated for release in fall 2024 is for anyone who has ever only ordered water and cringed as the table decides to split the check evenly. It’s meant to help readers face the roots of their realities of thief financial behaviors and focus on real-world long-term healthy outcomes. Not only that, but she’s the President-elect of the Financial Therapy Association!
Chris Browning
Chris Browning of Popcorn Finance fame didn’t intend to go into a career in finance. In fact, he started out as an art major who thought taking a finance class would be helpful. Not only was it helpful, but it shifted his career trajectory and he ended up majoring in finance and working in accounting and financial analyst. His journey led him to launch the "Popcorn Finance" podcast in 2017, where he distills bite-sized pieces of financial wisdom in the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn. Chris's down-to-earth approach and personal anecdotes make personal finance relatable and accessible. His podcast quickly gained popularity and was named the best personal finance podcast of the year by the Plutus Awards. I’m honored to be connected with him after spending years as a fan.
Sharon Epperson
Sharon Epperson, CNBC's personal finance correspondent, has been a consistent voice in the space of finance. Her insightful reports and articles have graced numerous publications, including USA Today, Time, and The Wall Street Journal. Sharon's commitment to financial education and empowerment shines through her work, and her involvement in hosting events like the inaugural CNBC Women in Wealth event underscores her dedication to uplifting diverse voices in finance, while focusing on those often overlooked.
Rahkim Sabree
Rahkim Sabree, a financial coach, therapist, and author, focuses on the intersection of financial education and trauma. His personal experiences with poverty inform his work, and he's dedicated to empowering individuals, especially those from marginalized communities, to reclaim their financial narratives. Rahkim's recurring columns in Forbes and over a decade of experience in the industry reflect his commitment to promoting financial empowerment and resilience. Every time I see Rahkim, he’s doing something new!
Jamila Souffrant
Jamila Souffrant's journey to financial independence led her to document her experiences on the "Journey to Launch" podcast. Her mission? Making financial independence accessible to all and helping listeners design their ideal lives using their money as a tool. Jamila's authenticity and practical advice resonate with her audience. I love that Jamila has taken her audience on a journey with her over the years. Her podcast initially focused on all of the ways a person could achieve FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), and has shifted over the years to include living well now while striving for personalized versions of financial wellness.
Steven M. Hughes
Steven M. Hughes is a certified financial behavior specialist and money Reiki practitioner who helps Black millennials and entrepreneurs build healthy relationships with money. Steven and I were both featured in the “Your Brain on Money” series, and have stayed connected over the years. If you’re unfamiliar with money Reiki, it’s an energetic healing modality that helps you release blocks, fears, and negative emotions you have around money. Through financial therapy and energy healing, Steven helps his clients to identify and address their financial blocks in holistic and innovative ways. His approach to financial wellness, combined with his commitment to diversity and inclusion, sets him apart and highlights the importance of doing things differently–and personally–in achieving financial well-being.
Taylor Gilbert
Taylor Gilbert from "Social Work to Wealth" challenges societal narratives around money, advocating for financial transparency and empowerment. Her journey documenting financial freedom while working as a full-time medical social worker inspires others to pursue financial well-being without guilt or shame. Her platform highlights how others manage their money, taking stigma out of the shadows and inviting people to things creatively about how they want their money to work for them. While she does focus on the concrete “how-tos” of money, I love that she also help you to grow to have a better relationship with your money.
Dr. Preston Cherry
Dr. Preston Cherry says, “Let your life lead your money, not your money lead your life.” As an Accredited Financial Counselor AFC®, Certified Financial Therapist CFT-I™ and Certified Financial Planner CFP®, he’s got the chops to back up how he helps individuals align their financial resources with their life goals. Dr. Cherry's expertise in financial psychology and his commitment to personalized financial planning have earned him recognition in top research journals and among clients seeking holistic approaches to financial well-being.
Julien and Kiersten Saunders
Julien and Kiersten Saunders, authors of "Cashing Out," share their journey to financial independence and early retirement. They openly share that when they first tried talking about money as a couple, it turned into an argument. Instead of that experience derailing them, they instead used it as a topic to focus on finding shared values and learn more about why they each responded the way they did. Their refreshing approach on their platform, “Rich & Regular,” addresses systemic issues like racism in personal finance and offers practical strategies for achieving financial freedom.
Scarlett Cochran
Scarlett Cochran, an attorney turned financial expert and entrepreneur, emphasizes the importance of reclaiming time and prioritizing life over work. When she was working countless hours as an attorney with the goal of earning more, it hit her that earning more was all but meaningless if it didn’t allow her to enjoy her life. Together with her partner, she documents her journey to holistic financial well-being on their YouTube channel “One Big Happy Life.” Her book, "It's Not About the Money," offers actionable advice for creating a fulfilling life with financial freedom.
Mac Gardner
Mac Gardner, a certified financial planner, started his career the way many CFPs do: by working with adults. He quickly recognized a pattern of his adult clients saying, “I wish I learned this sooner,” and started developing experiential financial literacy books and games for children. His innovative approach teaches kids about money and equips them with valuable financial skills, all while in a fun environment.
Michelle Singletary
Michelle Singletary was first introduced to me on the airwaves on NPR’s Day to Day series. I loved how she would weave the personal with the pragmatic without ever blaming her listeners. Her stories about her grandmother, who she lovingly calls Big Mama, resonated deeply and are ones I still remember over a decade after hearing them on-air. Now, she’s a syndicated Washington Post columnist offering pragmatic financial advice rooted in personal experiences and timeless wisdom from her grandmother.
Cheers to highlighting Black joy and excellence, not just in February but year-round! Whether you're familiar with these Black personal finance experts and creators or just discovering them, I hope their stories and their work inspires you on your journey toward financial wellness.