Macon financial literacy course helps families build wealth

MACON, Ga. (WPGA) - A financial literacy course in Macon is helping residents take a closer look at their finances and learn strategies for building long-term wealth.

Wealth ASAP and the Griffith Foundation teamed up to offer the Financial Foundations course at the Bibb County School District’s SOAR Academy building. The first group of participants is learning about topics including credit and investing. Monday night the course celebrated it’s first graduating class.

Chris Elliott, a participant in the course, said he wants to improve his credit score.

“My credit score’s not exactly where I want to be. I want to go up some for sure,” Elliott said. “This class has also taught us ways about how we can go about building our credit.”

More than 24% of Bibb County residents live below the poverty line, according to data reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The course aims to help participants be more realistic about their money and work toward financial stability.

Building long-term wealth

Elliott said the class has changed how he thinks about money.

“It wasn’t just about making money or saving money. It was about having money work for you,” he said.

Joe Booze, founder of Wealth ASAP, said even small amounts can make a difference.

“Regardless of how much money you have, you can always find a dollar or two here. A lot of people may say it doesn’t matter, but it does,” Booze said.

Graduates receive a $1,000 investment account to help them get started. Joshua Hale, executive director of the Griffith Foundation, said a professional partnering with the program will manage the accounts.

“It’s just given our participants to take an honest look at their finances,” Hale said.

Sharing what they learn

Organizers hope participants will take what they learn and share it with others in the community.

“We did a review and said, ‘Hey, if you can’t teach it to a fifth grader, you don’t know it good enough yet,’” Booze said. “So what do I need to do so we can go over that?”

The course will be a continuous program.