We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Javed Morgan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Javed , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One deeply underappreciated facet of being a service provider is the kind of crazy stuff that happens from time to time. It could be anything from a disgruntled client attacking an employee or waking up to find out a celebrity gave you a shoutout on TikTok – the sudden, unexpected hits (both positive and negative) make the profession both exhilarating and exhausting. Can you share one of your craziest stories?

Working in finance can be quite intriguing at times. Let me share both a positive and a negative story from my experience.

Firstly, I had a session with a prospective client to discuss their financial goals, the obstacles preventing them from achieving those goals, and potential solutions. Our consultation had three phases:

1. Education: We focused on educating the client about money, the psychology behind spending, and their financial habits.

2. Data Gathering: I analyzed their financial data, including income, expenses, debts, and credit card usage, to get a comprehensive view of their financial situation.

3. Solution Presentation: I presented tailored solutions, highlighting that they were spending $700 per month on dining out. When I asked if they were aware of this, they replied, “I knew I was spending a lot but didn’t realize it was that much.”

I explained that if they reinvested that $700 per month over the next 25 years with an 8% return, they could accumulate over $640,000. This revelation prompted them to change their spending habits and put them on the path to early retirement.

Now, for a less fortunate experience: I spoke with another prospective client about the importance of life insurance. They believed their job-provided renewable term insurance was sufficient. Unfortunately, they were laid off, developed a terminal illness, and depleted their 401(k) to cover medical expenses. The life insurance I recommended included living benefits covering critical, terminal, and chronic conditions. This would have paid their medical bills, preserved their 401(k), and provided their family with tax-free funds in the event of their passing.

These stories highlight the profound impact financial planning can have on individuals’ lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the United States on September 9, 2000, when I was 11 years old.

My journey into finance began through my mentor, who introduced me to the idea of getting an insurance license to help protect families. I was already interested in finance, inspired by documentaries on Warren Buffett. While attending college, I passed my insurance test during my junior year and entered an industry with only 382,800 Black insurance professionals, making up just about 0.115% of the field.

Financial illiteracy is a global issue, with over 4.5 billion people unable to answer basic questions about money. To combat this, we start by educating individuals, families, businesses, and communities on how money works. We then present solutions such as retirement planning, various insurance products (term life, permanent life, and annuities), and strategies for getting out of debt. My approach is twofold: providing financial education and offering tailored financial solutions based on the client’s newfound knowledge.

I’m proud that even if a prospective client doesn’t choose to work with me, they leave our session far more financially educated than 90% of their peers. With this knowledge, they are better equipped to protect themselves and their interests. My primary goal is to ensure that every individual I meet feels confident and informed about their financial decisions.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media can be a tricky game, as platforms often push you to pay for visibility. Even with an audience of 3,000- 10,000 supporters, your post might only reach 200-300 people. The algorithms are designed to limit your reach and generate more revenue, despite the substantial earnings these platforms already make. This is one reason many creators are flocking to TikTok, and why there’s been such a push to ban it. Navigating this landscape requires strategy to effectively get your content seen.

Personally, I’ve been active on these platforms for years. Sometimes I pay for advertising, and other times I achieve hundreds of thousands of organic views. My content primarily focuses on financial education, entrepreneurship, and business topics. I mix in different types of posts to keep my audience engaged.

For anyone creating content, whether for business or personal branding, my advice is to consistently produce and release content, engage with those who comment on your posts, interact with other people’s posts, find your niche market, and most importantly, provide valuable content.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up, I watched my parents work incredibly hard, and I believed that hard work alone was the key to success. However, I soon realized that this wasn’t entirely true. If hard work alone led to financial success, why aren’t police officers, firefighters, construction workers, and others in physically demanding jobs financially free?

These individuals work tirelessly, yet many struggle to achieve economic freedom. This was a belief I had to unlearn, and it took time to shift my mindset. I came to understand that achieving wealth involves more than just hard work; it requires seizing the right opportunities, having faith, and building valuable connections. There’s a saying that resonates with me: “If you help enough people attain their dreams and goals, you’ll accomplish yours.” This principle has been pivotal in redefining my approach to success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https:// https://www.instagram.com/iamjavedmorgan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/javed.morgan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javedmorgan/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamjavedmorgan9145

Image Credits

All rights reserved to me for the photos