The Financial Griot

"Don't be too quick to give up your agency, time and happiness for vanity"

This episode of The Financial Griot is centered around Consumption and the draining effect on your purpose. Too often, we get stuck in a never ending loop where we buy into a lifestyle only to be indebted to it for even longer. For example, the college experience is an expensive pseudo inflated lifestyle that mirrors affluent middle class. Through loans that extend beyond tuition and books, many fall victim to an expensive experience that's akin to Disney World.

All fluff and payment. After 4-6 years, you end up paying for it for 20-30 years. And then the pattern repeats itself, post graduation. TFG discuss the radical alternatives. 

Bonus Reading Recommendation: "the Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. He provides a deep dive into how we became a nation of consumers and following the Jones.

Detailed show notes, www.theneighborhoodfinanceguy.com

About Us:

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, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth.

Can you imagine being a Millionaire in 20 years or less? Yeah it's possible. 80% of millionaires are first generation. That means they didn't come from wealth. We teach you how. Join a community of subscribers that welcome a fresh take on money.

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew aka the Hosts: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, we talk about the importance of curating your physical, mental and virtual space.

The world is getting more complicated while tasks are becoming easier, and that's not a good thing. While it might sound ridiculous, you are suppose to have just 5 friends compared to Facebook's 5,000 limit. In truth, Social scientist Robin Dunbar hypothesized that an individual’s group can extend to 150 contacts. However, each contact is layered according to the strength of emotional ties.

As such, your mind is constantly trying to keep up with over 1,000 people, story lines and complications. It's no wonder why people are entrenched in camps and becoming burnt out.

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

Spending for Blacks in the US has gone up to $1.6 Trillion but wages and standards of living are dropping. What gives?

The Financial Griot podcast crew will discuss how to manage money in a time of uncertainty and how to make a way out of no way in lieu of external circumstances such as systematic oppression and a painful history. or decades and decades, Black consumers have been regularly overlooked by companies that don’t see them as a priority demographic. Black consumers continue to be underserved in areas such as food, housing, healthcare, broadband, and banking.

During the last five decades, the Black community has had limited access to building wealth for generations. A closer look at wealth in America reveals staggering racial wealth disparities. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2019 national Black poverty rate was more than double the white poverty rate in the U.S. (roughly 22% compared to 9%, respectively), as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

The average white family’s wealth is eight times higher than the wealth of an average Black family, according to the Federal Reserve. Systematic inequality, lack of financial literacy, high default rates on student loans and employment discrimination, among other factors, have led to the racial wealth gap. The 5 top financial challenges include: 

1. Access to affordable and scalable mortgages and Home ownership
2. Securing employment opportunities in higher paying fields and higher income due to pay disparities
3. Learning how to make informed and effective financial decisions to include emergency savings and investments
4. The prohibitive costs of using a certified Financial expert
5. Paying for the cost of education through exorbitant debts.

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

In this episode (rant), the Financial Griot crew discusses love and money while listening to social media highlights.

Alainta, Lawrence and Lovely gives their take on society at large on the lies and mirages that people cast on social media. Additionally, they drop tips and thoughts on how you can become more confident in your inner voice so that you don't end up being a victim of scams and scammers. 

The weird reasons why people create false personas online:

1. To be The Daring Political Rebel
2. A Wonderland for Pathological Liars and Attention Whores
3. To establish factions and destroy your enemies

About Us:

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, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth.

Can you imagine being a Millionaire in 20 years or less? Yeah it's possible. 80% of millionaires are first generation. That means they didn't come from wealth. We teach you how. Join a community of subscribers that welcome a fresh take on money.

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew aka the Hosts: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

This episode is simple. 

The Financial Griot crew is cooking up major heat with their Book recommendations. That being said, these are masterclass books that you need to get you in motion this year. Don't miss out on these life changing authors and let us know your recommendation as well. 

• Best Vision-Oriented Book: Atomic Habits
• Best Strategy Building Book: 12 Week Year
• Best Self-Reflection Book: Deep Work
• Best Wealth Building Book: The Automatic Millionaire

And if you are feeling kind, you can buy us books or send us a book to review. 

Why is knowledge Power?

Knowledge gives us the ability to survive and thrive in the world. This is freedom, and you can't have real power without freedom. More knowledge makes us better able to make decisions, as well as to decide the logical and ethical grounds on which we want to be making our decisions.

Other sources of knowledge that we pilfered from Book Insights Podcast:

• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
• Daring Greatly
• Playing with FIRE
• The Millionaire Next Door
• The Four Agreements
• The Power of Now
• The One Thing
• The E-Myth
• Cruising It
• The Happiness Advantage

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

"If the vision is weak so are the results."

In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, the crew talk about how to set your atomic habits to match your grand vision and vice versa. By February, most people already failed in their yearlong resolution to change. We told you, New Year Same You.

There are ways to set the tone and start anew. If you want to be above average and you want to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, the work starts in your mind. Making you wealth is easy but if you aren't ready for the work, it's a waste of time. So the choice is on you, the road less travel with obstacles or LA 2019 gridlock during a Basketball semifinals game?

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @its_alainta

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

To quote a great tweet from @sista_theology, "A God that co-signs everything I do, say, think and believe, is not a God; but an idol of my own making."

Too often in this day and age, we relegate the work that needs to be done to others versus gaining a true understanding of our roles. We are here to serve. No man is an island, devoid of the purpose of service and being in service with his fellow man. As such, the Financial Griot podcast crew is dedicating this episode to share what really moves us, in hopes that you are moved to serve in turn.

As always share, like and subscribe for real conversations with people on the wealth and happiness journey. 

Here's a bit about our background and who we are:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @its_alainta

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

Hey look social media is doing a thing again and Lawrence doesn't want to participate. Sucks for him, the Financial Griot podcast is doing a full episode based on the #10yearchallenge.

Alainta Alcin, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez will be talking about their financial experiences going all the way back to 2012 and the hard pivots that they had to make in order to set themselves up for success in 2022. Our goal is to force you to take action in the present that will impact your future.

As always like, share and subscribe. 

Something to consider:

#10yearchallenges can bring harmful data mining issue. What's data mining? Many of those seemingly innocent quizzes you see on social media could be part of data mining. The quizzes ask seemingly harmless questions, such as what was the first car you owned? What was the name of your first pet? What was the first concert you went to? And that's the problem.

These answers could be used in security questions when you establish accounts online.

Here are five planning tips for your future 10-year challenge:

1. Make A List Of Things You Want To Accomplish. 
2. Envision Your Lifestyle for 25+ Years.
3. Devise An Investment/Savings Strategy.
4. Work on Your Health Daily.
5. Surround Yourself With Great Relationships.

Here's a bit about our background if you are finding us for the first time:

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @its_alainta

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy

Alainta Alcin otherwise known as ATL gets a bae again. I could have sworn we did this before.

Fans requested the modern dating How To(s) since ATL keeps finding quality guys to go on dates with. Find out how you can set up your own power of attraction to hopefully leave this season with a new bae or at least a better version of you. As always it's all love. In an attempt to snoop around for details, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez dig up information yet again on ATL's love life and finances. Contrary to popular belief being single costs more than being paired up.

To make this actionable for you, we discuss how you can build a social media brand that attracts the right type of attention. Check it out (again) and snoop with us.

What are people saying about dating these days (from Pew Research Center)?

Nearly half of US adults say dating has gotten harder for most people in the last 10 years. A majority of women say that they've experienced harassing behavior and general disinterest. Suffice to say with the pandemic in full swing, dating has been difficult. Guys are saying it's harder to day in the #Metoo generation. And, people globally aren't having as much sex anymore. 

Ultimately, single men and women are finding it hard to connect and date.

Here's some tips of Modern Dating (online) from the ModernMan.com:

1. Don’t Talk About Dating Profiles 

2. Never Ghost 

3. Be Authentic 

4. Check Your Baggage

5. Don’t Go On Secluded Areas On Your First Date 

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the racial wealth gap. 

Merriam-Webster defines a Griot as a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard.

As such, we tell the stories that others don't. Stories that we should share for growth, opportunity and understanding. Beyond that we talk about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporating actionable steps and ultimately building generational wealth. 

So there you have it, The Financial Griot or TFG for short. You will be in for a treat. The hosts were able to amass over $2 Million in wealth in about 8 years and are on track to retire early. If you want the secrets; we will gladly share them since opportunity is abundant and Win-Win.

Connect with TFG Crew: 

Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast + Dating Guru @its_alainta

Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal Auditor, Blogger and Tax Specialist @theneighborhoodfinanceguy