Katrina Fitten.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to educate entrepreneurs—especially women business owners—on how to secure funding responsibly, avoid scams, and develop a strategic financial plan. It also highlights Katrina Fitten’s expertise as CEO/CFO of New Day for You Financial and her mission to help startups and small businesses access capital.

Key Takeaways

1. Funding Opportunities & Qualifications

   • Katrina helps women business owners secure up to $100,000 in 100 days or less, with same-day approval and next-day funding.
   • Basic qualifications include:
     • Credit score of 680+
     • Existing credit lines (at least $10,000)
     • A clear business mission and low-risk profile.

2. Avoiding Scams

   • Beware of unsolicited emails/texts promising easy money.
   • Do your homework:
     • Check companies on Better Business Bureau (BBB).
     • Look for testimonials and partnerships with reputable banks (e.g., Chase, American Express).
   • Never share sensitive information without verifying legitimacy.

3. Importance of a Business Plan

   • Funding is not free money—you need a strategic plan.
   • Katrina calls it a “money mission”: know exactly how funds will be deployed.
   • Without a plan, money disappears quickly, leading to debt and bad credit.

4. Family & Friends Lending

   • Treat personal loans like business loans:
     • Have written agreements with terms, repayment schedule, and penalties.
     • Decide upfront if it’s a gift or a loan.

5. Services Offered by New Day for You Financial

   • SBA loans, equipment loans, purchase order financing.
   • Lines of credit and 0% interest credit cards (18–21 months).
   • Credit card stacking for higher funding amounts.
   • Credit restoration referrals for those with poor credit.

6. Success Story

   • Example: A tax accountant secured $160,000 in less than a week due to strong credit, revenue history, and a solid business plan.

Notable Quotes

• “If you don’t have a plan for your money, your money will have a plan—and you’ll look up and it’s gone.”
• “We don’t want to be out here racking up good debt and then you’re not going to be responsible.”
• “You have to vet companies. Go to BBB, Google them, and check their credibility.”
• “If I give you money, I decide—is it a gift or a loan? There are rules to borrowing money.”
• “We say if you don’t get anything, we don’t get paid.”

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Christina Dukes Brown.

CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic, NJ

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aimed to:

• Raise awareness about the Boys & Girls Club’s impact on underserved communities in Paterson and Passaic, NJ.
• Issue a call to action for volunteers, mentors, corporations, and donors to support youth programs.
• Highlight challenges faced by marginalized communities and how the Club addresses them through education, nutrition, and character-building programs.

Key Takeaways

1. Community Impact

   • The Club serves 1,400 children and teens daily across two main clubhouses and 11 satellite sites.
   • Programs include academic support, tutoring, arts, athletics, and life skills development.

2. Challenges in the Community

   • High rates of homelessness, food deserts, and low literacy and math proficiency (only ~20% literate and ~15% proficient in math in Paterson).
   • Stereotypes and “deficit ideology” that assume poor or minority youth lack capacity for success.

3. Programs and Initiatives

   • Academic Support: Homework help, tutoring, and Saturday sessions.
   • Creative Outlets: Dance, musicals, and arts.
   • Sports & Aquatics: Swimming program praised for breaking stereotypes.
   • Young Adult Support (18–24): Internships, skill-building, and career readiness for those not pursuing college.

4. Call to Action

   • Volunteers and mentors needed to inspire youth.
   • Corporations and entrepreneurs encouraged to provide internships and teach business skills.
   • Donations critical—$4M annual fundraising goal to sustain programs.

5. Dr. Brown’s Motivation

   • Rooted in her upbringing in Jersey City during the crack era.
   • Believes in being part of the solution, not just complaining about systemic issues.
   • Emphasizes building “efficacious spirits” and affirming unique skills in youth.

Notable Quotes

• On Motivation:
  “I can’t complain about the position of Black and Brown people in society if I’m not going to do the work necessary to support its elevation.”

• On Stereotypes:
  “Deficit ideology assumes that if you are poor or minority, you do not have the capacity to be successful. We fight that every day.”

• On Community Support:
  “My community got me where I am today… I’m calling on the village to support what we’re trying to do.”

• On Youth Potential:
  “No matter where you come from, and no matter what you look like, you have the capacity to become great.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Laura Finney.

A seasoned financial literacy educator and coach. Laura shares her deeply personal journey into financial education, sparked by a lack of preparedness in her own life and a family experience that resulted in the loss of generational wealth. Through candid storytelling and practical advice, she empowers listeners to take control of their financial futures with strategic planning, budgeting, and mindset shifts.

🧭 Key Themes

• Financial Empowerment: Building financial literacy to live life on your own terms.
• Generational Wealth: The importance of estate planning and legacy preservation.
• Budgeting & Cash Flow: Identifying spending leaks and creating emergency funds.
• Mindset Over Age: Rejecting age as a limitation to financial or personal growth.
• Community Impact: Educating underserved communities and promoting financial independence.

🗂️ Episode Outline

1. Introduction by Rushion McDonald

   • Purpose of the show and encouragement to learn from others’ success stories.

2. Meet Laura Finney

   • Financial coach and educator with a mission to empower through financial literacy.

3. Turning Point at 50

   • Laura’s wake-up call after her 50th birthday and the realization of financial unpreparedness.

4. Family Legacy Lost

   • A powerful story of losing family land due to lack of a will, now replaced by an Amazon facility.

5. Common Financial Mistakes

   • Taking advice without personalized planning.
   • Misunderstanding retirement and financial independence.

6. Advice for 30s and 40s

   • Pay yourself first.
   • Avoid inaccessible savings vehicles.
   • Start planning early.

7. Budgeting Tips

   • Cut back on dining out, personal care, and entertainment.
   • Build emergency funds—even starting with $1/day.

8. Financial Misconceptions

   • Living for today vs. planning for tomorrow.
   • The myth of “having time” to save later.

9. How Laura Works with Clients

   • Initial consultation → personalized interview → strategic financial roadmap.

10. Closing Thoughts

    • Encouragement to take control of your financial future and live life on your terms.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “Nobody’s really retiring. We’re not great-grandma on the porch with lemonade anymore.”
• “Don’t let age define how you live your life.”
• “Everything starts with a budget.”
• “You can’t chase money. You have to plan for it.”
• “If you can save a dollar a day, you can build an emergency fund.”

👤 About the Guest: Laura Finney

Laura Finney is a financial literacy educator with over eight years of experience in the financial services industry. She specializes in delivering personalized financial literacy programs, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. Her mission is to help individuals and families achieve financial stability and long-term success through education, strategic planning, and empowerment.

📞 Contact Laura Finney

• Website: LauraFinneyEnterprises.net

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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