​Join Me on a Journey to Financial Freedom

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One of the most valuable lessons I learned growing up was this: Save your money, and it will grow. While that advice planted a seed, I didn't fully grasp the power of investing your money to make it grow exponentially.

Lack of financial knowledge led me down the familiar path of consumerism, buy-now-pay-later habits, and debt. I wasted more money than I care to admit. Over time, I learned some hard truths:

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• Saving and investing are not the same.

• There's a major difference between investing and trading.

• And the stark reality of our time is the growing wealth gap in America.

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How My Passion for Financial Literacy Began

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​Money wasn’t a dominant factor in my growing family, but it shaped many of our choices. Fresh out of college, starting a new career, and building a family, my wife Rosa and I made a life-changing decision: if she became pregnant, she would stay home to raise our children. Rosa worked for American Express Billing Services, but when our firstborn, Wil Jr., arrived, she gave up her career to care for our family—a sacrifice of 14 years of income. Then came another pivotal moment. After nine years as a corporate sales representative earning a good salary, I felt the call to ministry. I resigned, enrolled in seminary, and transitioned to full-time ministry.

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Suddenly, we went from middle-class stability to relying on welfare, food stamps, and public assistance. Along the way, we tried side hustles, took on part-time jobs, and did whatever we could to make ends meet. After graduating from seminary and receiving a church call, we could breathe again—but we still lacked a real understanding of financial literacy. Like many, we followed the standard advice: save, contribute to a 401(k) or 403(b), and hope for the best. But hope isn’t a strategy, and we knew we needed a better plan.

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The Turning Point

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In 2007, I joined the Cornerstone Common Cents Investment Club, led by Mr. Rich McFarland, a former Wall Street professional. He taught us how to research companies and make informed stock market decisions. Together, we pooled resources, analyzed companies and invested strategically.

Back in 2008, we purchased Apple (AAPL) stock—and to this day, our investment has grown by over 3,000%. If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have just invested $20 a month—I would have invested $200!

Later, I joined Building Bridges to Wealth, a program at the University of Pennsylvania. There, I learned how to build wealth, beat inflation, and create passive income. These lessons were life-changing.

 

The Wake-Up Call

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Over the past decade, the Lord has gently reminded me one day, I will have to retire from full-time work, and I am far from prepared. This realization drove me to pray and seek God’s guidance for a plan of action. I took full responsibility for my financial state and committed to making a change.

 

Then Came the Pandemic

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At the time, I was working for the City of Philadelphia, and Rosa was teaching technology at Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA). We had homeschooled our children, but when two spots opened up at CCA, our daughters decided to attend high school there. They quickly made friends, joined clubs, became cheerleaders, and graduated with flying colors.

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The principal, preparing to retire, was impressed by the academic bar they raised and offered Rosa a spot on the faculty—a position she couldn’t refuse. However, her transition created a vacancy at Cornerstone. During her exit interview, the principal asked, “Who would you recommend as a technology teacher?” Rosa immediately replied, “My husband works with technology every day.”

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That single recommendation changed my career. I resigned from the City of Philadelphia and stepped into the classroom at CCA. For five years, I taught technology and enjoyed helping students grow in their skills.

Then the pandemic hit. Masks, vaccines, hybrid learning, plexiglass dividers, and Zoom lessons became our new reality. It was challenging for everyone, especially teachers.

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One day, I thought: Teachers deserve a bonus for all the extra work. I made the suggestion to the development officer, but it wasn’t going to happen. That’s when I had a “God moment”—the idea crossed my mind: “Make your bonus.”

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It was during the height of the meme stock phenomenon, so I decided to try investing in stocks and options. With no real experience, I took the plunge. Within a few weeks, as the school year wound down, I had profited over $5,000.

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That summer, I invested in myself by enrolling in a stock trading and investing course. That decision sparked a passion for financial literacy that continues to guide my journey today.

 

The Steps Along the Way

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• Cornerstone Common Cents Investment Club
  Learning the fundamentals of investing, building long-term wealth, and making strategic stock purchases.

• Building Bridges to Wealth @ University of Pennsylvania
  Discovering how to generate passive income, beat inflation, and build a solid financial foundation.

• Trade and Travel with Teri Ijeoma & Educator 2 Trader
  Joining a community of like-minded people committed to learning about the market.

 

Why I’m Sharing This

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I’ve made mistakes, learned hard lessons, and experienced the fruit of faith and persistence. Now, I want to help others avoid the pitfalls I fell into and take practical steps toward financial freedom.

Are you ready to join me on this journey? Together, we can learn to save wisely, invest purposefully, and close the wealth gap one step at a time.

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Let’s build a future where financial independence is within reach for all.

Let’s start today!

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