At the Africa Credit Expo 2023, KeyAnder Early, a Financial Literacy Expert delivered a captivating keynote speech titled “How Money Works.”
Sharing a message, she received earlier in the year; she highlighted the struggles of an individual who had never been taught how to manage credit effectively.
This personal story stressed the pervasive issue of financial illiteracy, particularly the lack of education about credit and money management.
As she recounted a touching encounter with a desperate 19-year-old single mother facing significant debt, Early delved into the broader problem at hand—generations trapped in a cycle of financial uncertainty due to a lack of financial education.
Her personal journey, marked by financial challenges, resonated with the audience, emphasizing the need for proactive financial literacy.
At the Africa Credit Expo 2023, Early emphasized three crucial steps to financial empowerment:
1. Understanding How Money Works
She highlighted the importance of comprehending the dynamics of money to achieve financial freedom, encouraging attendees to implement the knowledge gained from workshops and resources, making intentional choices to shape their financial path.
“When you attend these workshops, you’ve got to be intentional. Implement what you learned here today, you have a financial planning track, a trading plan, a family business plan.”
2. Knowing Your Current Financial Situation:
Acknowledging that many live paychecks to paycheck without a clear understanding of their financial standing, Early asserted the necessity of evaluating one’s financial situation transparently. This involves confronting debts, knowing credit scores, and being aware of financial habits.
“You cannot move forward with anything you learned here today until you understand what has happened in your financial past because guess what? It affects your financial future.”
3. Getting Clear on Financial Goals
She further urged attendees to establish financial goals aligned with their family’s needs and desires. Whether aiming to buy a house, save for retirement, or start a business, creating a comprehensive financial plan was highlighted as a key factor towards achieving long-term objectives.
“If you’re wanting to buy a house, if you want to save for retirement, start a business, pay off debt, fund your children’s education, you got to write that down, you got to know what it is that you want.”
Touching on diverse topics, including the significance of investing, the role of insurance in financial planning, and aligning financial vision with personal values, she ultimately pointed out the life-changing power of financial education in breaking free from the shackles of debt and steering towards a path of financial prosperity.
In closing, Early shared a deeply personal triumph of the impact of mastering money management. Her ability to purchase an investment property, support her family, and witness her mother’s tears of gratitude affirmed the potential for positive change when armed with financial knowledge.
“Fast forward 11 years later, I was able to buy my first investment property and began to feel my Path to Wealth.”
KeyAnder Early closed with the message: “Your time is now. Make your money work for you. Your time is now, and you deserve that today. Why wait? Have a wonderful day.” This was a call to action for everyone, which encompassed the essence of the Africa Credit Expo 2023.
